Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-06
VALUE OF LENENcY
Principle Of Indeterminate
Sentence Accepted.
REFORMING THE CRIMINAL.
When the Effects of Probation Are
Beneficial.
RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN
Banquet Tonight to Visiting Dele
gates to the International
Prison Congress.
REFORMING THE CRIMINAL
RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN

The proceedings OF the four sections
OF the International Prison Congress
in session at the Bureau of American
Republics moved with more precision
and speed this morning than at the
preceding meetings.
Section one. which includes the lead
ing criminologists of America and for
eign nations. formally declared that
1.-The scientific principle of the indeter-
inmate sentence is accepted. that II
should be applied to the mentally OF
morally defective. 1t should be ap.
piled, furthermore, as an important
part of the reformatory system to OF.
tenders. especially juveniles, capable
Of reformation. The suppositions upon
| which its introduction should depend
are: ca That prevailing notions OF cul-
| pability and punishment are not op-
posed to the idea Of the indeterminate
sentence.
90 That punishment should be indi-
| vidualized. (c) That the prison board
| consist of persons not subject to outside
influences. and comprising at least one
representative of the magistracy. one Of
the prison administration and one Of the
medical science. maximum sentence
| sary. because Of the novelty Of the in
tence and lack Of experience with it,"
Prof. Gordon e. Sherman Of Yale
took an active part in the deliberations
of this section. and insisted that a per-
son sentenced for crime In a foreign
country should be liable in the land Of
his residence to the same forfeitures, in
on;% ND 10 cto k,,o vx,S,i he
would have incurred had he been con-
demned there.
Reforming the Criminal.
Section two, which is considering prison
possibility of reformation for every
normal criminal. whatever his age or
past record. This reformation, accord
ing to the scientists. is most likely to be
accomplished with the influence of re-
ligion. of suitable instruction and of
useful industrial employment.
The texts of other resolutions are: That
the reformatory system Is incompatible
with short sentences, that a relatively
long period of reformatory treatment is
more likely to be beneficial than repeated
short terms of Imprisonment under much
more severe conditions
THAT reformatory treatment should be
parole under suitable guardianship and
supervision"
Effects Of Probation.
In section 3. Sir Evelyn Ruggles-Brise.
chairman. the delegates unanimously
agreed THAT the effects Of probation are
beneficial when applied with due regard
to the protection of the community and
to persons who may reasonably be ex-
pected to reform without resorting to
imprisonment, and when probationers
are placed under the supervision Of
competent officers. That the effects Of
suspended sentence without probationary
oversight are difficult II not impossible to
ascertain"
The section urged that the laws pro-
viding probation be extended to those
countries which have no such system.
Rights of Children.
Advocating legislative measures to
make the rights of illegitimate and legiti-
mate children as nearly as possible identi-
cal, section four adopted resolutions pro-
posing a modification of existing laws.
Recommendations for moral and social
propaganda to protect children born out
Of wedlock were made by Mrs. Jessie D.
hodder Of Boston. The experts went
on record in favor Of giving illegitimate
children fair chance in life and the
place in a family group to which their
blood relationship entities them.
Prof George w. Kirchwey Of Columbia
University delivered a public lecture at
the Willard this afternoon. He declared
that the era Of the use of criminal
statistics is at hand and that the next
few years will give new data of great
Importance relating to the obduracy of
the incorrigible, to the capacity of fallen
manhood and womanhood to renew them
selves and to the saving Of children from
lives of crime and shame.
Banquet to Delegates.
The government of the United States
will be host to the visiting delegates at