New-York tribune., 1907-09-29
PRISON FOR REFORM
Roland B. MOIineur Recommends
Court of Rehabilitation.

Roland b. Molineux deals with the life OF a
criminal IN prison in article entitled Ihe court
of Rehabilitation" written for the current weekly
issue of The Charities and the Commons" He
recommends a prison education that will change
the mental attitude Of tho prisoner as means OF
influencing him for good
The record OF the prisoner in prison and better
knowledge Of a moral and social life. the writer
says are his credentials for freedom. which. he
says should be decided by court OF rehabilta-
ton. before which the prisoner. the warden. his
friends and others may he subppnaed TO appear
ito try him for release" Mr.. Molineux believes
that this procedure would make the released crni-
nal an ambitious member Of society.
Mr. Molineux is opposed TO sentencing a crini
for definite term because he believes II fails
In It's object and II makes tho United States spend
millions of dollars every TO achieve this fall
ure.
imprisonment as inflicted to-day" he says. is
worse than useless It IS In itself a crime. In
almost every it releases the criminal more
dangerous menace than before his incarceration.
The Criminal Court should determine but one thing
the guilt Innocence OF the defendant II guilty.
the one and unvarying sentence should be banish-
ment. which should be spent IN prison and should
be absolutely indeterrninate.
by hts deed has proven himself
worthy to dwell among his fellow men He must
remain apart from them forever. until restored
to citizenship by court Of rehabilitation. Is this
not equitable? It has required judge and jury to
the court OF neutrality-suspicious. It be restored.
Do this. bring the question down to the simple
guilt innocence. let the sole permissible
for any crime be banishment. with the only
of gaining freedom through n court of
habilitation and every evil of the criminal law Will
disappear"
Mr.. Molineux questions whether the present state
Of punishment protects society by reforming
criminal deterring others from crime The pro-
lection OF society by definite term for the crml
nal is only temporary. The theory IS advanced that
Imprisonment will the prisoner h. frightening
him into permanent good behavior. The state has
responsibilities the Individual even after
conviction.
Prison life," he says must be one not OF suf-
fering, but of preparatfon-preparaton for liberty
Independence, courage right thinking mental dis
ciplne-these the qualities he will need If he is
not again to fall. Imprisonment will always be
useless unless 1t makes man desire to reform and
gives him the TO do so"
The prison life with a moral education which Mr..
Molineux recommends is applica tion to present
opportunities of usefulness The prisoner works
and is paid for II by the state There lectures
and classes attend. He is taught TO forget his
past life Of Officials teachers, the
IN the workshops his friends. He finds offered
to him certain preventives and cures of crime.
After he has demonstrated his sincerity TO reform
by ambition kind acts and ''by solicude for his
fellow prisoners and for those outside whom he
has caused to SORROW" he is advised ask for
trial before a court of rehabilitation.