The Washington times., 1902-12-29
OF CRIME
VIEWED FROM PULPIT
The Rev John Van Schaick Lectures on Treatment of
Criminals in Series on Darkest Washington"

the same old faces up before the judges
all the time.
Abolish the short sentence. It may
seem hard to deprive of freedom for
years because one simply engaged in
drunken hrawl, but the harshness disap-
pears when We look upon the offender as
patient needing treatment, not punish
ment
In the third place provide for ade-
quate treatment Of the criminal. In the
District Of Columbia we might begin
with the Jail. It is a warm. comfortable
lodging house, where some people like TO
90 to g.. three square meals a day, a
good place to sleep and all without work.
Work Is a great educator. We might at
least provide that.
Behind the Times.
we are behind the times in adm mis-
tering for criminals. We regard them as
so many people 10 be shut up for just so
long. Other cities have come TO see that
the criminal is a defective man or wo-
man. defective mentally. morally OF
physically. and that like the insane. he
must be cared for until cured
"One Of the greatest strides made In
the District Of Columbia was in the es-
tablishment some twenty months ago, Of
the Juvenile Court All persons under
seventeen are arraigned here instead Of
with old offenders. Instead Of dismissing
or sending to the Jail or wor1house. the
fuuffNa mo
Board Of Children's Guardians. OF to the
Reform School. probation officer is
provided and youthful offenders dismiss
ed on probation are watched. encourng-
ed, the parents talked 10 and every effort
made 70 save them from a criminal life.
II this is not effective they are brought
back and sent 70 a school to be educated
until twenty-one. None Of this machinery
Is perfect Il takes time to get hold Of
the right men TO run machinery. but tc
my mind II Is full Of hope for the future.
II marks the introduction OF the princi-
pie Of reform instead OF vindictive pun
ishment into the criminal procedure Of
the District OF Columbia. The dav is
coming soon, l believe. when this prin-
ciple viii be extended to all Of the Grim
inal c. urts Of the District and the coun-
try
Sentences will be indeterminate; that
Is. for no definite time They will depend
upon the behavior and progress Of the
criminal He will be treated like a man
and not a thing. Think you that self-re-
spect can be inculcated by a striped
suit. and a number instead OF a name?
He will begin work. II a poor negro.
for example. he viii be taught a trade.
He Will be under The influence Of teach
ers firm yet sympathetic When he
comes out he will be helped in his new
life. The day OF the brutal keeper. solf-
tary confinement. enforced Idleness. OF
labor without hope has passed.
Put Them Away Till Cured.
Probation officers will be provided for
all the courts. II IL is a FIRST ofense. or
a slight one, prisoners will be released
/ and encouraged by these officers. who
viii follow their careers. to do better.
If they don't do better. If they are a
menace TO society. they win lot be fined
once a month or shut up three or four
times a year. They Will be put away un-
III cured.
The head of the workhouse in future
viii rank in dignity with the president
Of college.
Adequate treatment Of the criminal
means education when imprisoned and
ENCOURAGEMENT when freed.
Society IL guilty Of Indifference and
aversion toward the man once behind
the bars. We force him back into a life
Of crime because we shut the door OF
useful employment 1 am glad that In
this District the Prisoners Aid Society
is doing such noble work Il is under
the auspices OF the Episcopal Church
and il is an honor to that great body
Although Of arother communion. I an
proud 70 be q member.
All punishment. human or divine. ia
remedial II IL is just II is TO make
men better. We may be justified In
shutting up for a lifetime. We are not
justified in taking away the life. The
criminal be he ever so low, foul bru-
tai. OF bloody, Is our brother Let Us
restore such a one in a spirit OF meek.
ness. cpsidering ourselves lest we ais,
/. be tempted