The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-14
. Need Jail Reform .
Associated Pres. to III. rve.i.< rine.

Aosoc1ute0 FkeoS 10 11e xve01o8 Vlme0s
Chicago. ILL.,, Nov. 14.-Professor
Charles r. Henderson. of the depart
ment of sociology of the University
of Chicago, is already at work on the
preliminary features of a report on
needed Jail reforms, which will be
made to the Congress of the National
Prison association at its meeting next
year. At the congress in Albany in
September Professor Henderson was
appointed chairman of committee
to prepare a report containing sug-
gestions that would improve the con-
dition of jails.
Professor Henderson is particularly
well qualified to do this work, ow-
ing to his protracted study of the sub
ject and by reason OF the experience
he has had in the work. In addition
to having been president of the Ma
tional Prison association in 1902, Pro-
lessor Henderson was also one of the
American delegates to the Interna-
tional Prison conference at Budapest
in 1906.
Regarding the subject which he is
now considering, Professor Henderson
says:
"At the last meeting of the National
Prison association the president, c.
v. Collins, of New York, called atten-
ton to the fact well konwn to OBJ
servers and students. that the essen
tial evils Of our jails have not been
much affected by the discussion of fifty
years. Some minor evils of food, ven.
tilation and decent physical condi-
tons have generally been much i'm
proved in that time. Indeed. the SAM
tary standards OF boards of health
will generally abate nuisance for the
sake of the public If not for the sake
of the prisoners. But that does not
60 far.
THE essential evils which persist
in spite Of the unanimous protest Of
competent authorities in Europe and
America are two, association of idle
ness. If the inventor and propagator
of crime were to 60 about his business
in the most direct and methodical
way he would place young offenders
in idleness under the tuition Of skill
full and INSCRIPTIONS criminals ana
his malign object would be accom-
plished. But this is just what is done
in most Of the county jails in this
country; all offenders are brought
near together, even innocent persons
held on suspicion or as witnesses, Of
ten in the same hall. OF course, wo-
men are usually in different room.
but often they are within hearing of
men and boys. The structure of cOun-
ty jails, as a rule. could not be con-
trived better for producing mutual
corruption. The man or woman who
Is innocent. often himself the wrong
marty. is punished not infreQuently
with a long term in advance of hear
ing or trial. For this enormous in
justice the state does not make apollo
gy or reparation, and SO sets an ex-
ample of gross injustice and breeds re-
volt.
1.-THE National Prison association.
whose members are all familiar with
this state of things, appointed COM
mittee to mass the evidence and pre-
sent 1t for publication next year. That
study is already In progress. and will
he made as thorough as the means of
the committee permit. 1t is a case
where money could be used with great
advantage, for reform is urgent and
difficult aud the association has no
fund for investigation.
County administration has not
shown ability to grapple with the sub
ject 1t Is impossible to secure enough
trained prison officials to conduct
correctional establishment in every
county of every state Local officials
as a class are not equal to state Of
ficials; on the average their fitness
Is inferior to that of the agents Of
commonwealth At any rate. a county