The Monte Vista journal., 1909-06-19

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With this conception of the duty Of
the state toward those convicted Of
crime an intelligent treatment of the
prison problem has resulted in changes
OF methods. frequently revolutionary.
but always progressive. which have
proven effective to a remarkable de-.
gree. 1t is only necessary to enumer.
ate some Of the more important re.
forms introduced in the last ten or
IL years to show by what steps the
present standard Of the prison system
OF the state has been reached.
First. the prisoners were classified
In four grades. namely: A. first
term: B. second term: c. three or
more terms: and d. habitual Grim.
inals. Under classification rules an.
forced. arst offenders and confirmed
criminals are kept separate in every
department Of the prisons. Move
ments calculated to restore the self.
respect Of the prisoners resulted in the
abolition Of striped clothing and of the
custom Of clipping the hair of convicts.
the substitution Of military marching
Tor the lockstep. and replacing the old
tin-plates and cups In the mess hall
oy crockery. In the interest Of
health and more perfect sanitation
many changes have been inaugurated.
A system OF numbering the shirts and
underwear Of the prisoners was estab.
lished. through which each prisoner
now receives from the prison laundry
the same garments he sent in. and the
indiscriminate distribution Of gar.
ments from the laundry il prohibited
A BARRIERS shop 10 provided in each
prison Workshop with individual lathss
cups. manufactured In the prisons, and
individual soap for each prisoner,
Competent dentists and oculists give
the prisoners' teeth and eyes such
attention ~ they actually REQUIRE.
Electric lights have replaced ksro-
sene lamps In prison cells. A rule 10
enforced. whereby before any man may
work In the mess hall or kitchen hs
must be examined BY the prison ply.
sician and have . certificate showing
that he II not aflicted with any In,
fectious. CONTAGIOUS or eruptive dis
ease. The prisoners are clothed in
summer In lightweight, washable suits.
A transfer system was inauguratsd,
whereby ~ soon ~ any prisoner At
Auburn or Sing Sing shows signs Of
incipient consumption he 10 trans.
ferred to Clinton prison at Dannemora,
In the higher altitude and purer air
OF the Adirondack region. where q
tuberculosis hospital has been estab-
lished. Tho transfer system and san.
itary regulations have reduced the
prison death rate 80 per cent. In the
last decade under that Of the decade
previous. Tho Dannemora state hos.
pital. . separate institution, has besu
established for the segregation Of the
convicted from the uncouvicted IN.
sane. tho latter being confined 1t the
Matteawan asylum.
The application OF the indeterminats
sentence and the parole system to all
hrst offenders for crimes other than
murder in the first and second Dc.
grees has been one OF the most far.
reaching Of the reforms. brinsins
about very saiutary results. The par.
ole system II administered BY the
State Board Of Parole Commissioner,
Since September I. 1901. when the
parole law went into effect 1851 sp.
plications for parole have been q.
amined BY the board and LIT pris.
onsrs have been paroied. OF this nuus.
Der but I73 have violated their parole,
While Il has always bssn the proc.
tics b prisons TO punish the convicts
for attractions Of the prison rules, su.
pssintsndsnt Collins vas the arst 70
suggest . reward Tor good coaduot,
and hs devised . system Of honor en-.
bisms. each prisoners conduct record
bsias Indicated By ehsvrons on the len
sleeve Of the coat. These smblsms ass
popular with The men. and IN their
efforts 10 earn them the discipline OF
the prisons 70 very notioeably In
proved.
Perhaps the most important mno.
walton IN the prison system from Tie
standpoint Of far.rsaching s6ect was
the Introduction November /. 1901. q
. comprehensive school system. and
last year more than 3.S%e eoaviets.
many q them iliiteeaess. entered ~
Glasses. Only he eomnoa sehoel
beaaehss ase taught.