Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-13
DIR. SIMON ON NEW PENoLoGY.
Address Delivered at Pythian
Temple Before Secular League.

The New Penology" was the theme of
an address delivered by DR.. Abram Simon,
rabbi of the Washington Hebrew Consre-
cation, before the Secular League. AT the
Pythian Temple. yesterday afternoon Dr.
Simon began with the earliest conception
of crime. the first division of the subject:
next taking up the criminal. and conc!ud-
ing with 1.-The Social Defense. under
which head he took occasion TO say tha'
Senator Gallinger's bill for proposed
probation law is an admirable one, ana
indicated that it was step in the r.sht
direction toward the proper method OF
dealing with criminals.
DR.. Simon said in part:
Crime is increasing. 1t is just as seri-
Gus in lis character as 1t was years ago.
What are the causes of crime: They are
Of three kinds. CosmicaI, social OF physi-
cal and individual! or anthropolOgicai. All
Of these causes WORK together to produce
crime.
Some criminolos lists believe that the
criminal is distinct type. and We can
agree with them partially In the oeief
that all criminals do exhibit certain slmi-
lar characteristics. There are flVe diner
ent kinds OF criminals-the insane crimi-
nal. the born criminal. the habituai, the
occa siOnai and the criminal of passion.
I'VE should not make the punishment
fit the crime. but the punishment should
fit the criminal. Punishment is not EN-
cacious until it has neutralized the social
factors of crime. Work is a better means
Of improving the minds and habits OF
those inclined to be criminals tnan CHAINS
and shackles.
1.-THE judges of our courts should have
scientific knowledge and capacity as wen
as mere Judgment Of facts. They should
be independent and upright and good
also.
Indefinite and unfixed periods of seq
regation are commendable and praise
worthy. The state should be able to pre-
vent crime. but is not. Unable to pre-
vent crime. the state arrests the criminal.
The state is TO blame 1t is the victim
who pays double. Uniformity Of punish
ment is bad So long as man IS IN
nocent he must provide for himself. So
long as he commits crime. his board ana
lodging in prison are paid for by the
state
Il am against capital punishment. In
extreme cases only does II seem leSlti-
mate Experience shows that penal col
onies are a failure. But if the labor ele-
men: is applied and the criminals are
compelled to work penal colonies are sue
ceSsful.
Cellular punishment blots out the
manning spark of social feeling in Inc
criminal and has other condemning quail
tias. The best alternative is the penal
colony in agricultural lands and plenty Of
work.
''Habitual criminals most deserve pun
ishment.
..All efforts for reform should be en-
ployed on the occasional criminal. The
course of probation is the wisest one.
Senator Gallinser's bill on the proposed
prob ton law is an admirable one. This
scheme is in force in Massachusetts,. The
judge applies the probat ion in Massachus-
etts. while it is proposed that the pro-
baton snail be determined by proba ton
commission in this city.
LAS We study the subject more and
more. find that we are only in the
initial stage in new drama in the study
of crime.