Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-05-16
CONVENTION OVER
Meeting Of Charities and Corrections
AdlOurns
THE PLANS SHOULD BE CORRECTIVE
The criminali;y and Not the Crlmi-
nal Should Be Exterminated- Was
n Good Session.

Atlanta. Special.-The thirteenth an
uual CONVENTION OF the National AsSo-
citation OF Charities and Correction. |
one or the most successful and best a.
tended in the history OF the organiza-
ton. came % an end Tuesday night
The principal address or the evening
session was by Rev DR.. Samuel J.
Barrows. secretary or the New York
Prison Aid Association. who discussed
the treatment OF criminals. DV 8ar-
rows said In part:
Whatever differences may exist IS
90 methods and systems. there is a rc-
I markable unanimity among modern
7 penoiogists concerning the principles
7 10 be applied 20 the treatment OF the
criminal Whether We look at it from
the standpoint Of the individual O.
tender or OF society as a whole. We
I teach essentially the same conclusion.
\ penal system TO be effective must be
corrective. The protection OF society IS
hest secured not by exterminating the
criminal but by discriminating his
Icriminality. IL is a paradox for society
Ito punish offenders when IL continues
10 foster the conditions which produce
them. The rational treatment % The
offender must begin as soon as he
comes within the grasp OF the law. The
true function OF a jail is simply as a
house OF detention. The assumption
that Imprisonment Is the only disposi-
ton 20 be made OF the offender is ar
bitrary AID Irrational IL has already
been demonstrated. after several years
II trial In various States and countries
that the suspension OF the sentence
and release OF prisoners on probation
are vastly more corrective than inn
prisonment Tor first offenders. slnre
statistics prove that much smaller
number OF those placed on proha, on
return to crime than ~ those con-
manded 20 prison.
when probation fails with The first
oncn-rr. 10 Is then necessary % zee
strict his liberty But the assumption
thar mere deprivation of liberty viii
I IF itself improve the character 90 enc
offender IS one OF the greatest bluhtegs
20 our penal system. When an offender
IS removed from society he should Do
. submitted 10 conditions which arc es-
sentialiy disciplinary and corrective
Correctional end roformatory in.titu-
lions should be built with this distinct
a end ira view. The essential features u
2 , reformatory system are an improve.
70 personnel IN prison officers and efiici
}. |-nt corps 90 teachers. educativc al.
8 productive Industries. a graded and
n marking system. elevating. redniu.
10 and moral Influences. The prisone
j. should remain under discipline uaJ
s. bis record shows chat IL is safe &. ~
/. ease him Even then his rclcas
q + should De conditional until by good De-
r iavior at large hc has earned his ab
p s0lute discharge. The parole system Il
many States aud countries has sun
-iently demonstrated its utility. n
secure the best results it should bn M
soiuteiy free for all partisan iniurnc'
= and determined by the character an
q conduct % the prisoner.
Among the great regeneratiye fo'
~ res is that OF Intelligent and frutf,
" labor The ideal condition Of pris.
- labor are secured when the prisoner
=. employed IN industries which are bot
n + rlucativc and productive. in whic
o. discipline is not disturbed. In which B
p the labo- 90 tho prisoner the State
- reimbursed for his support. and
which the prisone- himself secures
o share ~ his earnings. In the select,
IN ~ labor for prisoners that form shou
e. be chosen which viii 90 most 20 30 q
IL prisoner for self-suppo-t whom
q liberty
r Anon, the other speakers AT q
a days sessions were Dr. ID. J. McNaho
2. % New York. A. ~. Gutricge. OF
,is Paul. MINI. Mrs. emily r. Williai
re son. OF Elizabeth. y j.: Mrs. Alico
O0 Lincoln. OF Boston. and Homer 20
commissioner Of charities. o. y
Nv York city.