The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-02-20

ng in solidity Of characer not virie IN straining
towards ideals Of morality; needless of the warn
ing voice of religion. Not that but all of us, having
been born IN original sin, bear IN taint of sim
Tar infection-and how many "respcctabes might
ot be IN prison II benign environment had not him
cred the spread of this infection. if prestige and
Ahuence had not preserved them from the conse
sences Of more or less hidden transgression:
Let us return to the eX-convict. In most of them
here is degree of moral unreliability. Whether
was there before, or whether it was engendered
trough Imprisonment, | do not know-it is in him
evertheless. IS consequence, the solid and last
ng reformation of the ex-convict, if he has also
Seen criminal, presents difficulties. II he
be left to his own Devices even with employment and
wages he Is likely to show some unrest that sooner
Or later will force him away from his work. Ii he
be In undisturbed possession of his leisure time
and be of luStful Incorporate disposition, soon
he is more or less implicated with strong drink
women. Hence feel that a from prison, to be
soiidly reformed. must be taken and kept well III
hand-Inere perfmctory interest in HIM will not
achieve lasting results The lack of success in
claiming ex-convicts that so often attends the ef-
forts of organizations and individuals, | attribute
60 the absence Of distinct and determined influence
of influence from individual upon individual.
] wish that every convict III whom the prison chap
lain had produced at least the beginnings of
change Of heart, could on release from prison be
put Immediately in touch with whole-souled man
convict to rehabilitate himself in the community.
In regard 10 the after treatment of prisoners,
whether paroled not, Switzerland serves as an
admirable model. Switzerland has fourteen socie-
ties for discharged convicts. with a central COM
mitee in the chief city of each canton and having
district committees corresponding members that
carry the spirit of philanthropy into the smallest
borough. The extension of aid to the discharged
prisoner IS made, not through money, but through
work and personal sympathy, counsel and interest.
The prisoners oe brought into touch with these
workers, before ever he has left the prison. The
committees seek for him patron, charitable and /
unsetish man OF chosen 10 be friend, guide /
and counselor to the discharged convict To this |
patron is committed the work of directing the pris-
oner IN the right way, Of following his career until
he is rehabilitated Thus direct personal influence
has immense scope. The patron either reconciles
the prisoner TO his family and friends or seeks
place of employment and endeavors to create new
environment for his protege.
These societies have diffused among the public
more Just ideas in regard to liberated prisoners and
made The people understand that ii is for their in
terest o associate in this work Employers willing
y admit such men, for there is the surveillance of
the patron and further the societies guarantee to
them rembursement5 OF depredations that the ex-
prisoner might intiict on the employers. Remark
able to relate, IN twenty-three years the societies
have had no expenditures on this account. Recid-
ivism is remarkably rare. in the canton of Neu-
ehate statistics for three consecutive years show
that the highest number of reconvictons in one
year fifteen out of 800. or about per cent
Why could we not III our own country establish |
ourselves similar lines! Surely philanthropy,
he love OF fellows, is not rare among us The
nanJ organizations that exist throughout the land
or the amelioration of the distressed and the de-
ectivc bear witness that charity is not dead, but
ives vigorous life. Why can there not be more
organizations for the benefit of the delinquent?
Ne are not yet sufficiently aroused to the impor-
ance of this matter. Great strides are being made
j advance IN preventive and reformatory work:
vhy shall moi more be done on lines of rehablita-
ion? Can we not find men and women to ioin in
he work of helping the ex-convictl Have we not
oany men and women of means, devotedness and
aisure that could take up patronage of men and
'omen from state prison and penitentiary?
/ ask the question, | make the appeal Who will
nswcr!