The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-09-14
TIREYFORD WRITES
BOOK On PRISONS
Publication of Treatise Is CO.
incident With Tour of
Investigation
Plans for intermediate Jail to
Be Formulated in the
East


railroads and president of the board
state prison directors, appears in the
light of q writer and historian in
book fresh from his pen that treats Of
the history and development OF the
California prison system and goes deep
~ into the causes Of crime.
Coincident with the publication OF
the book setting forth Ford's impress
sions. convictions and recommendation
On criminals and prisons he leaves for
the east next Saturday as president OF
the prison board to conduct an eXhaus-
tive study into reformatory institutions
10 the end of establishing an intermedi-
ate Jail between the juvenile detention
and reformatory institutions and the
state prisons This is in accordance
with an act passed by the last legis-
latUre recommending q thorough inVes-
LEGATION of the subject Under present
conditions. adult first offenders are in
generated with the most depraved.
Ford viii attend the convention OF
the American prison association that
convenes in Washington September %.
Warden Hoyle of San Quentin and
Warden Reilly OF Folsom viii also go
10 the meeting. The convention will
discuss the best methods of prison
management and the handling OF pris
oners.
INTERNATIONAL DELEGATE
Later on October ?, Ford VIII repre-
sent this state at the international
prison congress. which. al the special
request Of former President Theodore
Roosevelt meets in Washington. Prison
methods in vogue IN all parts Of the
world viii be considered and matters
relating to crime, criminals and means
OF reformation viii be studied.
Ford will be gone for six weeks. He
is enthused over the subject of the
intermediate prison and intends to visit
ali these institutions IN the east II
Is q peculiar fact that these exist IN
small area, Including half a dozen
states stretching from Illinois 20 New
York New England and the south are
innocent OF them and but one IS TO be
found west Of the Mississippi river.
California State Prisons" is the title
Of Ford's book. He modestIy states
that il is his first literary effort and
that he has produced il to enlighten :he
public with regard to actual conditions
surrounding the prisons and criminals.
In the preamble he tells Of his appoint
Inent 10 the board of prison directors
I'VE years ago and OF his subsequent
deep interest IN penolOgy. His ignor-
ance relative TO the subject prior 10 the
appointment is his reason for writing
a comprehensive and exhaustive trea-
Use ana AlSNNLS bE " hlCh tic pNbiiN
may understand the prison problems.
de says:
PRISONS LIKE HOSPITALS
Il believe in having a prison IKE
hospital. where men sick-from crime
may be treated. cared for, and when
they are better, paroled. watched and
finally pronounced cured Prisoners
should be separated into classes to OBJ
tain the best results"
The history of prisons fSpm the time
Of the early Spanish instit tions in this
state is carefully recounted. The con-
dition ct the time Of the American
occupation and the use OF a ships
hold as the first American prison are
described. All the prison laws and
practices and their development. to-
setner with d summary of incidents
bringing out methods of treatment are
set forth. The book comprises so pages
and is profusely illustrated.
Ford says that after years of study
lie is firmly convinced, with the chap
lain OF Joliet prison, that crime re-
suits from a lack of respect for con-
stituted authority and that it has its
genesis in the home" So that when
the child is permitted to disobey its
mother the first toddling step toward
the prison cell is taken.
He shows by a table that ~ per cent
Of crime is committed by persons be-
tween the ages of % and % years. The
figures SHOW the percentage during the
last so years In recommending the
parole system Ford shows the great
benefit from this class Of workers to
the state as an earning unit and that
the number OF violations since the pass
age Of the parole law II years ago has
been but II per cent
He concludes his work with the ar
sument that regardless of the systems
Of prison reform and Incarceration that
may be adopted, If childhood years 20
by without control criminals will con-
tinue TO abound and prisons and re-
formateries viii continue to stand a
monument to neglected youth"
Prison Directors Notified
SACRAMENTO. Sept BE. Forest
Mitchell, private secretary to Governor
t5ileIt, sent out letters today inform
ing TREY L. Ford, Warren r. Porter.
Charles Sonntag, r. T. Devlin and c. E.
Clinch, members of the state board of
prison directors, that they had been
commissioned as delegates to the
American Prison association. which