The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-01-08
Reclamation Of Criminals.

present, MS subject being Modern
Penology." All present felt that we
have much to learn and that our treat
ment Of criminals, especially the most
debased, is not in harmony with the
most advanced thought.
am able from memory only to give
. synopsis Of an address which am
certain could be repeated before lar
ger audience with profit and pleasure
to all. The salient suggestions were
these:
Offenders should be sent TO Jail or
to prison, not for stated term, but
for treatment until cured. That is
our method in dealing with the sick
or Ill, when we send them to the hos
pltal. We agree with the advocate of
ancient methods that protection to
society is the primary object in con-
timing prisoners, but We 60 farther and
car next effort is 10 reform and return
to society useful member. And
mere we ask calm, unbiased judgment
by those who have examined into the
result Of our effort. In one institu-
tion, the new conner is placed in an
intermediate grade wearing TO striped
suit; he can by good conduct rise to
higher grade with greater privileges;
or by idleness and bad conduct he
may fall to the lower with greatly
curtailed condition. In each grade he
receives credit marks for his work.
and is charged for the cost of his sub
sistence and other things.
After passing successfully through
the upper form, he is released upon
parole, subject to good conduct. It
is pleasant to learn that more than 60
per cent are returned to society; and
this after only Few years of expert
nent.
The doctor told us that it is the
opinion of men who have made close
study of the subject, that there is no
such being as an ''incorrigible," that
every human being can be reached
and helped by the power of human
sympathy and kindness. This is she
conclusion of one who speaks after
having given study; and who is com
petent to speak.
Will the world accept this truth?
Possibly, bus not to-day. Modern
penology discards the idea of ven
geance or Of retaliation in dealing
with offenders: that is where we differ
from ancient usage.
Justice Simeon Baldwin, of the
Supreme Court of Connecticut, has a
different view than that briefly out
lined above. I will endeavor to con-
vey it to your readers! He wishes to
restore the whipping post for some
offenders. I find that in all he utters
there is no intention of applying the
lash to the more reputable class of de-
linquents, only to those who having
never had opportunity in life may
safely be left to the whipping boss for
final treatment.
In Justice to this advocate of old
forms Of discipline, we observe that
he favors private whippings instead
of public; he says Of Delaware, where
it is publicly applied: "No State in
the union is more free from rogues of |
all kinds"
Where do they goa A Connecticut
man was once told that wooden nut
lnegs we're made in the State. guess |
they did make few but they had to |
go out of the State to sell them" So |
It would appear that after the work oe |
reclaimiug offenders was begun in
Delaware it had to be completed else.
where; possibly under another sys-
tenn.
The judge is especially interested
in the proper treatment Of wifebeat
srs, and favors tbe lash; here he has
many supporters, but if the State is to
retaliate in kind, and whip wife whip
pers, what disposition is to be made
of wife poisoners? If our logic holds
good they must be poisoned by the
State. The judge refers to one pris-
oner who in New Haven has been
jailed 120 times. The suspended SEN
sence without limit would meet such
,ases,
Here is another reason given: Jail
'r prison life, in modern institutions
and under modern conditions has be-
come almost attractive, to the confirm
I'd offender. In Jail it is often the
'ase that the prisoner gets better
'ood, lodging and clothing. aud pleas
inter employment than he is accus-
'omed to outside. This is doubtless