The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-10-02
CONGRESS
ABSTRACTS LETTERS
READ AT THE AMERICAN PRISON
ASSOCIATION CONGRESS AT
WASHINGTON.
{. II - II - . 81 ;: 4. ;: ): :: ::
The Families Of Prisoners.
(By DR.. Gennat, DIrector OF Prlsol


! (By Ut. Geuudl, l)N NtSNOl VI iISOiSi
Hamburg)
One may easily understand that from
my position as director OF prisons and
head of five establishments numbering
at least two thousand Convicts, take a
lively interest i'll this question.
therefore add supplement to my
former report.
The fact that the German empire
proposed to extend legislation in the
mater of assurance to Widows ana or
phans clearly indicates that the great
eI number of families have to suffer
at the death of the head of the house
mold.
When a family has been having Il
certain annuity, If the head is imprls-
oned and the family is in distress, this
income is allowed, by authority of the
| charity department, to go to its NOM
bers, during the term of Imprisonment
1t may even happen that the family is
better off, for the government meets
the expenses of the man, and the
whole of the fund can be used by the
| family. Besides that, the convict
earns a certain amount by his work
which he can give up in whole or IN
rart to his family which helps their
condition.
There are certain penalties which do
not carry with them the obligation 10
work, and if the prisoner does not
choose to work his family is robbed OF
its rights. This almost seems to favor
crime. And even among those VINO
work there arc always some who earn
nothing in money, as, for instance,
those engaged in domestic work. Such
work is valuable to the s,ate, and the
family should have the benefit of what
the man earns. Many conVlcts give
willingly to their families the small
sum they earn; others ought TO be eX
horted to do so. To have the best re-
suits II would be well to forbid them
Ito buy supplementary food from theil
funds.
It may be objected that the prisoner
has a right TO the fruit of his labor, OF
at least to some recompense, and tha'
after he has paid for his own support
his family should have right to MS
earnings. But they do not earn tnell
support. The expenses or lmprlson
ment include the purchase OF lands
the construction of bindings, furnish
ings, salaries, etc, which must be tax
en- into account. But if the obligation
TO work exists it constitutes a part o.
the penalty and the stage considers i
as one means of reaching the ends a
which it aims by repression. 1t Is 10
the sake of the prisoner himself al
well. If the prisoner is incarcerated /
is his own fault, so he is responsible
.or the expense incurred and 1t is Onl.
lust that he should use his strength II
the service of the state.
| have not much opinion OF condl
tional liberation, at least as under
stood by the German code, and d'
not believe that it will aid the need
families of criminals and it should no
,, be employed for that purpose. Cond
ional liberation ought 10 be distint
ton conferred on the convict for III
lown ueneht. So of the condluona
sentence, the utility of which seems Il
NE very doubtful, and it has LITTLE
chance of being adopted by Germany
As to emasculation, 1t is well know
that | am not in favor OF mutilatlon o
torture, but we may sometimes ASK !
in exercising humanity toward Grim
inals we are not inhuman to the non
est. When ] add that according to IN
statistics of Hamburg for the yea
; 1910 the number OF conyicts guilty o
? crimes against decency made 81 pc
cent of the whole number one mus
:. recognize that that is an alarmn'
, phenomenon Justify ng the severes
{ remedies