New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-10
TO SAVE THE CRIMINALS
JIdde FawCett Has a Plan TO
Reuenerate ex-ConvlctS.

County Judge LOWS Il
rlan in view which he feels will be greatl5
beneficial in restoring the criminals TO their
normal Mace i'm society. lie believes tlA'
,bare is s,ood even in persons who nave
served time in the state prisons anu
that such persons should be aided by so
ciety 10 get on their feet after their terms
are over. and not pushed further down
and permanently stiSmatized As cx-conVicts
by lifelong exclusion from the FRANCHISE
After the prisoner is liberated. the Judge
thinks he should he freed from punishment
and allowed 10 get back into decent way ot
living il lie wants 10: in other words. that
there should he TO artificial barrier TO
stand in the way of the regeneration OF
the former criminal. Judge Fawcett not
only believes in this theory. but he Is pre-
pairing to secure legislation TO put his
theory into effect This is what the judge
himself has to say regarding his plan:
scientific treatment Of the criminal after
conviction with the idea of his reformation
developed the establishment of reforma-
tories. along with which have been intro
duced the pre- sent system of probation.
parole and the indeterminate sentence.
Prisons under the present humane idea Of
management are now becoming more Ike
reformatories. for kindness has displaced
DlAlalllN anu lfIlSt4l OIitidlS Nbih Aoi bil'
uplift Of the inmates The modern plan
is to- do all possible to improve the mental
moral and physical condition of prisoners.
The lockstep. straItjacket, shaving Of the
head, the lash the wearing of stripes BY
fist offenders, the paddle and the water
cure have been done away with. and con
y:cts are treated with all possible humane
spirit consistent with discipline.
More Power for Courts.
The humanitarian idea of reforming
convi,ts and saving them to the community
and further usefulness should he carried
To- the extent Cf inaugurating plan where
by the function Of judicial procedure Is
carried beyond the expiration Of the sen
tcnce which has been served in prison, and
provides for the rehabilitation OF prisoners
who have expiated offences for which they
have baen convicted ny leading d law
aiding life for a stated number OF years.
and such law would encourage ex-con-
victs to lead Scod lives, and society would
profit
Rehabilitation should be a right and not
an act Of charity, tine court having full
power in deciding whether claimant has
made out his plea for rehabilitation.
criminal record greatly initiates against
=
stigma makes 1t hard for one going out of
prison To get started in an honest career
And il one actually reforms the restoration
uf citizenship is always Of prime impor-
lance These reasons make reformed ex-
conyicts anxious to secure rehabilitation"
\ rehabilitation bin drafted by Judge
Fawcett which is now IN the hands of As
scmblyman Warren l. Lee provides that
the time Of five years of honest living shall
clapse in the case OF all youthful offenders
under the age Of tWeEtv-onc years. and in
all other cases where the punishment does
not exceed ten years the time which must
elapse subsequent to the expiration of the
sentence shall be three times the length of
the sentence. but in no event shall the time
OF exemplary living be less than five years.
Must Account for Himself.
The application for rehabilitation can
Only be made to the court that imposes the
sentence. and the eN-conviCt must serve 4
copy IF his petition and aff1davits with at
least twenty days notice of motion on the
District Attorney Of the county where such
proceedings are laid The person 50 petit
tioning the court must set forth in his
moving papers the place or places of resi-
dence since his liberation, his employment
ness in which he has been engaged since
leaving prison. which papers must be ac-
cOmpanied by attestatons and certificates
OF good character from employers and
others. The District Attorney must in
quire into the facts Of residence. conduct
and means Of living of the petitioner. and
report thereon TO the court the return
da- Of the motion.
If the application IS denied il may be
renewed at the expiration OF three years
thereafter II the court in its discretion
grant the motion order shall be entered
effacing the criminal record of the petit
TONER from the files of tho court. cX-
punging all criminal records Of the con
demncd wherever kept within the state.
restoring the citizenship and according
complete rehabilitation To the petitioner
Thus. prisoners who have reformed and
will prove the permanency of their reforms
by the length of time they have lived
clean, honest lives can renew their citi-
zenship and have the record Of conviction
I expunged
The criminal court bench carries with
il great power for right. There II daily on
portunity to help the fallen. to awaken or
/ arouse the spark of manhood in some I'M
. fortunate. to assist the young that have
! made their first miSStep and save to the
! community young mon that aftcTward re-
come good citizens. No greater or better
and young women TO useful lives and good
I citizenship and the Tcha hiitatiOn of de
serving, reformed cX-COnVictS
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