The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-06-18
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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
II 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 en-.
forced, first 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
by 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 is prohibited
A BARRIERS shop is provided in each
prison workshop with individual lather
cups, manufactured in the prisons, and
individual soap for each prisoner.
Competent dentists and oculists give
the prisoners teeth and eyes such
attention as they actually require.
Electric lights have replaced kero-
sene lamps in prison cells. A rule is
enforced, whereby before any man may
work in the mess hall or kitchen he
must be examined by the prison ply.
stefan and have a certificate showing
that he is not afflicted with any in
fictitious, contagious or eruptive dis
ease. The prisoners are clothed in
| summer in lightweight, washable suits.
| A transfer system was inaugurated,
| whereby as soon as any prisoner at
Auburn or Sing Sing shows signs of
incipient consumption he is trans
ferred to Clinton prison at Dannemora,
in the higher altitude and purer air
of the Adirondack region, where a
tuberculosis hospital has been estab-
lished. The transfer system and san.
| itary regulations have reduced the
prison death rate so per cent. in the
last decade under that of the decade
previous. The Dannemora state hos
pital, a separate institution, has been
established for the segregation of the
convicted from the unconvicted in
sane, the latter being confined at the
Matteawan asylum.
The application of the indeterminate
sentence and the parole system to all
first offenders for crimes other than
murder in the first and second de-
grees has been one of the most far.
reaching of the reforms, bringing
about very salutary results. The par.
| ole system is administered by the
OIdI0 bOdTQ VI fdrOlo commissioners.
Since September l, 1901, when the
parole law went into effect 1851 ap-
plications for parole have been ex-
amined by the board and LIT pris.
oners have been paroled. OF this num-
Der but 173 have violated their parole.
While it has always been the prac-
| tice in prisons to punish the convicts
for infractions of the prison rules. Su:
perintendent Collins was the first to
suggest a reward for good conduct,
and he devised system of honor en-
blems, each prisoners conduct record
being indicated by chevrons on the left
sleeve of the coat. These emblems are
popular with the men, and in their
efforts to earn them the discipline of
the prisons is very noticeably i'm
proved.
Perhaps the most important inno-
walton in the prison system from the
standpoint of far-reaching effect was
the introduction November 1, 1905. of
comprehensive school system, and
last year more than 2,946 convicts.
many of them illiterates, entered the
classes. Only the common school
branches are taught.