The Washington times., 1907-10-01
R. B. NOLINEUK
URGES NOVEL PLAN
OF PRISON REFORM
Wants Court to Liberate
PrisonerS-All Definite
Sentences Abolished.

The indeterminate sentence for crimi-
nails as advocated by Robert n. Iiar-
per. president of the Washington Cham-
Der Of Commerce. and Justice Stafford.
Of the Supreme Court OF the District
Of Columbia. In The Times last Sunday,
is the subject Of Il remarkable article
by Roland B. Molineux. himself a vic
tim of the present criminal law. This
contribution appears in the current is
sue of Charities ana the Commons.
journal Of philanthropy and social ad-
vance with which Jane Adams, Of Chi
csgo; Jacob Riis. OF New York, and S.
w. Woodward, OF Washington, are con-
Dected
His contribution is entitled THE Court
Of Rehabilitation" under which heal he
advocates three propositions. stated
briefly, they are as follows:
All terms of imprisonment to be Of
Indefinite length.
Release from prison TO be by legal
procedure through a court OF reh6blli-
tation. before which the prisoner, the
warden. the prisoners friends, and amy
others may be subpoenaed TO appear 'to
Try him for release"
All prisoners to be given both educa-
tional and trade training, and to be
paid for their work.
Mr. MolineuX says. in part:
No Chance for Early Release.
Imprisonment now means practically
for a fixed period. Beyond the slight
reoUction for good behavior. nothing the
prisoner can do will hasten its termin-
alton. Good behavior becomes. there
fore, mere inertia Is there in such an
existence any effort. either by himself
or by the state. at a cure. reformation.
rehabilitation-cau it what you will?
To make the convict walk in a degraded
manner. to garb him in humiliating
fashion to assign him 20 number in
which all individuality vanisheS. to
force him 70 the performance OF certain
tasks at the mechanical command of a
bell or whistle. or worse TO submit 10
the horrors OF enforced solitude and
idleness of mind or body. or bOth-is
there in such a system anything in
fiuencing him for good, sending him out
useful. an honest. and an ambitious
member of society2
mo human being. whatsoever his
crime. should be sentenced TO definite
term in prison.
The criminal court should determine
but one thing-the guilt or innocence OF
the defendant. Has he or has he not
committed the crime OF which he Is aC-
Cused2 II guilty. whether Of murder or
varying sentence should be hanishment.
The criminal code should he stripped
10 bare list OF the acts constituting
crimes and misdemeanors. and provision
made for a uniform treatment Of all
those convicted Banishment. which
should be spent in prison. should be alb
solutely indeterminate.
Court to Grant Releases.
by his own deed man has proven
himself unworthy TO dlyeI among his
fehow-men. He must remain apart
from them forever, or until restored to
citizenship by a court of rehabilitation
Is not this equitable? II has required a
judge ana jury to deprive him Of lib
erty, only by a judge and jury should
It be restored. The second Judge and
jury should form the court Of rehabil-
itatiop. 1t must be free from sentiment,
have nothing TO do with pardon. remain
Lninfuenced by poiuca. power OF the
prisoners friends, be actuated only by
absolute justice.
DO this. bring the question down 10
the simple one OF guilt or innocence.
let The sole permissible sentence for
any crime be hanishment with the only
means Of gaining freedom through a
court OF rehabilitation, and every evil
Of the criminal law viii disappear.
Tile objection may be raised that this
system ma-oS il comparatively easy tU
get out OF prison. Posi- bly, il does but
IL Also il lnulles il hard 10 get back into
prison, IS not greater good accom-
plishcdg