The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-02-16
Prisons and Prisoners.
Continued

Continued
Let any otherwise decent man
live this life for three years and nine
months, always having before him
the one object, that of shortening
his time, and / need not ask what
the psychological result will be.
Mr.. Gladstone's Preventive Deten-
ton Act will do much to Tighten the
labor of Scotland Yard; the pity is
that it limits sentence of proven
tive detention to ten years, for at
the expiration of this time, whatever
be the age, mental and physical con-
dition, or passed record of the pris-
oner sentenced under the Act, he
must be discharged, though home
less, helpless and friendless. He
may, of course, be discharged much
earlier if circumstances warrant, es-
pecially if he has friends and work
to take up.
Now, the men who qualify for the
provisions of this Act are of two
classes the determined and persis-
tent criminal, who lives by crime,
desires to live by crime, and to
whom no other life has any attrac-
ton. Against these men, after be-
ing adjudged by jury to be habit
ual criminals, we ought to be safe
guarded, even as we protect our
selves against known madmen.
The second class are criminals be-
cause they are Irresponsible help
less class of individuals who have
not the ability to maintain them
selves, who can do nothing useful
unless under control. Most of the
men who comprise these two classes
are of middle age, many of them de-
cidedly old; but when their proven
tive detention expires they will be
ten years older, SO | question the
mercy as well as tn e justice Of
thrusting these old men into useless
liberty; better by half detain them
under responsible conditions and let
them quietly die out, in the hope that
few will be found to take their places.
And in the days to come that most
awfully afflicted human, the epilep-
tic, will not wear the criminal badge
or the convict's brand, and the hid
eous cruelty inflicted on these un-
fortunates will be no longer perpe-
trated. Their sorrows an d their
sufferings will make no vain appeals
to our pity and care; we shall pro-
tect them and ourselves in humane
and scientific way. But not in pris-
on. And when that time comes,
the horrid term criminal lunatic'
will also disappear from our vocab-
ulary. For it is high time this abor-
ton was buried and numbered with
the monstrosities Of the past. | pro-
test against this phrase and the con-
sequences that attach to it. Verify
it passes the wit Of men to conceive
how anyone can be criminal and a
lunatic at one and the same time
for if he be the one, he cannot be
the other. So Broadmoor will be-
come the state Asylum" and the
cruel farce of putting undeniably in
sane people on their trial will no
longer be tolerated, for quietly and
mercifully, after due certifcation,
they will pass to the mental hospital
with no brand of criminality upon
them. Are we to be forever lmpo-
tent before diseases OF the brain!
Are physical affections and depri-
vations to remain forever unconsld-
cred when justice holds the scales,
and when punishment is decreed?
/ think not! Nay, / am sure, for
for in the prisons that are yet to be
the paternal hand Of the State, while
exercising a restraining power over
it's stricken children, will consider
their Affections and have mercy upon
them.
Then blighted youth -blighted
through poverty, disease. major
nation or accident-will be no long
err neglected, even though it be GRIM
inallv inclined. Then the reproach
that the State helps only those that
can help themselves will be wiped
out. Then even in our prisons the
weaklings will receive some portion
of their due, and the days Of criminal
neglect will be ended From The
Public and The Prisoner. published
by The Central Howard Association,