The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-13
JA|LS WHERE
SINNERS MAY
Be REFORMED
Turn Criminals Into Coco
Citizens and Not Make
Them Worse, Speak.
ers Urge.

steps that may properly be taken bJ
the State authorities and by individual
associations for safeguarding the Grim.
inal following his release from jail o.,
lpenitentiary were considered at soma
nails yesterday morning. a paper pre-
pared by Mr.. Henry Gregory. OF New
York, on the after care OF inmates Of
prisons and rcformatories being the
basis for discussion in which num-
Der OF weli-known workers took part.
Mr.. Burnett Lewis, OF Richmond ex.
planned In detail the objects OF the
Ex-Prisoners' AID Society Of Richmond,
which securcs from The superintendent
OF the penitentisry some weeks before
hand the names of all prisoners whose
terms arc about to expire and aids
them In obtaining employment and IN
re-establlshfng their chara cter In the
community.
Parole system.
II was held that this could best be
accomplished by the indeterminate sen.
OF which q prisoner is released after
serving portion of his term, on the
condition OF his good behavior, under
tho supervision OF an officer OF the
court.
Mr.. Gregory said in opening the dis.
cussion:
you may remove your offender and
tncarceratc him for a season, but IL he
emerges and is readmtted to society
with hs evil nature uninproved--nay
hardened, embittered, exasperated, bet
ter acquainted with criminal devices
and methods-his mind more than ever
nrclnipl with anfIvncIaI a m yr1a1eyn1Apr
thoughts and himself. from association
with other offenders, become an adept
In cunning and crafty criminality. and
with desperate determination to
avengc his III treatment upon society
~ he returns in this condition, society
has wronsed him and punished Itself"
Mr.. Gregory laid much Importance on
the necessity OF adequate training for
guards. keepers and prison officials.
asking the rejection of political inlu-
ence. favoritism and other unworthy
considerations in the appointment OF
these officers. and the insistence upon
fitness as indispensably necessary.
Prisoners and Work.
"one difficulty in dealing with ex-pris-
oners Is their unwillinsness or inability
10 work steadily. many never having
been accustomed to life OF continu-
Gus occupation Reports from large
number OF state prisons were read TO
show the percentage Of men who re-
tarn after FIRST otfcnse." said alr.
Gregory.
I'VE are by no means without hops
that prisons will eventually be refor-
matory institutions In the best sense
instead OF great gloomy buildings
where prisoners of all grades OF criIns-
nality, without classification, are as
sembled under one roof. with the III
ventilated, ill-lighted cells and other
features more or less abominable. The
model prison should consist OF Groun
OF buildings situated upon farm or
tract OF land sufficiently extensive 10
admit OF agriculture on large scale.
The mon should spend large part OF
the day In the open air engaged IN
farm work or roadmakinG There
should also be one or more buildings
for instruction In the various trades
and Industries In order TO prepare the
mon for self-sspport after liberation.
Provision should be made for the SIM
pie education, which many prisoners so
greatly need. In the model prison
there would be classification OF pris-
oners, the more desperate and DANGER
Gus ones being carefully selected and
guarded while there would be no need
OF such strictness In the care OF the
majority, who. it may be assured.
would be amenable TO discipline and
disinclined to escape"