The Elbert County tribune., 1906-04-05
AID TO. CONVICTS
LARGE CRIMINAL POPULATION OF
COLORADO.
PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Secretary Of Prison Reform Associa-
tIon Tells About Its Work-Flrst
Step Is to Save Juvenile Offenders.
Denver.-W. s. Collett, general sec
retary of the Prison Reform Associa-
tion, was guest and speaker at
Thursdays weekly MONDAY lunch OF
the chamber of commerce, his address
being on the topic, "The Discharged
Convict and Society,"" The members
Of the chamber were greatly interested
in his speech. which was heartily ap-
plauded. He spoke in part as follows:l
I'VE are not dispensers of maudlin
sympathy scented with rose water. All
such methods are resented by the best
type of ex-prisoners himself. While
the typical convict will proclaim inno-
cence to the uninitiated, in hope OF
graft, with us this is not even at
tempted. Many letters from prisoners
are on file in our office which say:
They caught the right fellow when
they got me, and am getting here
but my just deserts. However, Mr..
Collett, think 1 know when have
had enough, and will appreciate your
kindness If you will assist me in secur-
ing another chance
There are in the prisons of Amer
lea to-day about 100000 men and wom-
en-, whose ages average a trifle more
than twenty-six years. The lowest ac-s
cepted estimates place the number OF
ex-prisoners of the criminal type at
200, 900 more, giving us total criminal
population of 100000 strong. No army
was ever more expensive for main
tenance. The United States spends
5000, 100000 annually for officers and
courts, trying to repress the ravages;
but in spite of their endeavors, the
depredations of criminals annually ag-
gregate S400, 100000 more. This gives
budget of $600,000,000 annually, ex-
ceeding the value of last years wheat,
cotton or hay crops. Yes, it even ex-
ceeds the annual cost of maintaining
the federal government
Colorado has an average of $50 in
her prisons at Canon City and Buena
Vista. This is six times as many as
the state of Nebraska, when proper
toned to the populations of these
states.
According to the National Prison
Association estimates Colorado must
have criminal population Of more
than $500; and these would cost us
$2,000,000 for repression and $4,000, 900
for depredations, a total of S6,000,000
a year-$500000 per month. Can we
afford to ignore this problem of social
life in our state?
Permit me to say that the greatest
forward step was taken in prison re-
form when we decided to quit making
criminals of our juvenile offenders. In
stead of rushing them into prison at
once, to lie in idleness with old round
ers, only too apt pupils in the school OF
crime, we very properly placed them
on probation, at the discretion of the
court. And Colorado is justly proud of
her distinguished judge whose success
Is attracting the interest of every civ
ilized country.
sIs there any logical reason why
adult first offenders. at least il guilty
of minor offenses, should not likewise
be admitted to probation, at the dis
cretion of the court? The humiliation
of public arrest, trial, conviction, SEN
tence and monthly report to an officer
is, with many man, measure of pun
ishment sufficient to insure good con-
duct in the future. Massachusetts
has had such a provision in force for
over twenty-five years, New South
Wales for nearly twelve years, and
Connecticut for three years. New York
has been enlarging the operation of II
similar provision throughout that
state.
"All of you were doubtless interested
in the good roads agitation of about
year ago. The net results are that
about seventy-five or eighty TRUSTEES
have worked in sight of the peniten-
tiary constructing road to the sum-
nit of the Royal Gorge hills. But
think we agreed that for the present
and future welfare of both the prisoner
and the state, all of the inmates of our
penal institutions should be employed
each at that for which he is best
adapted. In New York for over eight
years everything needed in the state,
city, county or township institutions
have been manufactured in the peni-
tentiaries of that state. For five years
the law has not been modified by legis-
lative enactment, and the labor unions
of the state have indorsed the plan.
Last, though not least, the Colo
RADIO Prison Association desires your
assistance in securing state recogni-
ton. Of necessity there must be
careful superintendent of paroled
men, guiding them into the character
of honesty, industry and generally
good citizenship"