Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-12-15
GOOD CITIZENS
Of BAD BOYS
R%eformatory Report Shows
Good Work There.
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

Special to the EVENING NEWS.
Trenton, Dec. 15:-The introduc.
ton of an entirely new set of rules
formulated in such a way as to place
the life of the inmates somewhat or
a par with that of the outside world.
has, in the opinion of the Rev. Frank
Moore, superintendent Of the Rah-
way Reformatory, made the last
year in the Institution one of real
accomplishment.
1t has been the aim of the Board
of Managers and the superintendent
to give the young men under their
+care something definite for which to
strive. The unit of the new system
has been made a day, the meaning of
which, the superintendent says, is
easily understood, instead of the old
plan Of a mark, which was an indefl-
mite thing.
The standard of conduct has been
raised and the average time within
which a parole is given has been re-
duced as a consequence of new in
centives heidi out to the inmates.
Discussing the new scheme, Super
intendent Moore, in his annual re-
port Of the institution, which has
Just been submitted to Governor
+ I, says:
"It has ben found that the signifi-
canoe of a day lost or gained, Is very
much more Ineligible to the young
man, who sometimes has little edu-
cation, than is the mark that has to
be transformed by him before he can
comprehend it. A day stands for
more, it stands for so much liberty,
wages and pleasure. 1t holds before
him a desirable end, and therefore
causes him to put forth a greater
amount of effort.
"In addition to the item of con
duct, the new system contains a
three months reward for scholar
ship, industry and skill, which holds
always before the young man some
thing for which to strive, and thus
stimulates him to acquire that which
renders him most likely to become a
capable member of society"
The institution has a bankruptcy
court to which the young man, who
has made many mistakes at the be-
ginning of his time in the Reforma-
tory, and has come to see his error,
can make appeal, show his good in
tentions, have his poor record
erased and be given an entirely new
start. 1t is noted in the report that
this rule has been a great success.
While discipline has been i'm
proved, corporal punishment has not
been resorted to during the entire
year. Harder and better work has
been done and greater improvement
has been made in the studies of the
school. The average time spent by
young men in the institution has
been considerably shortened. The
average time required for reaching
parole for the last three years has
been as folloys: 1908, eighteen
months and twenty days; 1909, sew
enteen months and seven days; 1910,
sixteen months and twenty-three
days. Discussing this phase of the
new government, the report says:
This the new system, while making
more exacting requirements of the
inmate, has, nevertheless, caused him
to struggle harder and the average
time of detention has been reduced
nearly two months"
This means that the 305 inmates
p~aroled during the year have each
reached parole In fifty-seven days
less than under the former rules,
thus giving them their liberty that
much sooner and saving the state
the cost of their maintenance for
that paroled time. Reduced to years
this has been a total saving of forty
eight years for n man.
The report states that it has been
the aim of the management to edo
unto the young man In the Reforma-
tory as we would like to have him do
unto us under the same circum-
stances" Continuing, the report
states:
Realizing that much of crime is
ance, we have laid the strongest en-
phasis we possibly could upon indus
try and the pursuit of knowledge"
A monthly moving picture entertain
ment is conducted to which every
young man who has made a good
record for one month Is given a
ticket. Baseball has been allowed
three times a week all through the
summer and On many Saturdays
match games have been played with
teams from adjoining towns.
The matter of health has been
greatly improved by the adoption of
a physical drill conducted out of
doors. Sickness at the institution
for the last three months was less
than fifty per cent. of what 1t was a
year ago. An appeal has been made
to the instinct of honor. During the
year $40 inmates have worked at
different times outside the buildings
and their enclosures, often under
very slight guard a mile away from
the institution. Where necessity re-
CURED 1t they have worked through
the night alone. There have been
only three attempts at escape, or less
than one per cent. of those working
outside. In two cases where young
men had lost their fathers by death
they were allowed to leave the insti
tuition entirely on their honor, befn.
there over night, attending the fu
neral and returning the next day, II
each case exactly at the appointe,
time.
Asserting that while the institu
ton has followed the S05 inmate
paroled very closely for a year, tn
superintendent says he can safel
claim that fully sixty-fve per cent
have entered into the world to be
come creditable members of society