Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-14
CHRONOLOGY PROBLEMS AND A BETTER VERMONT

Changing conditions rural regions as wen ,S III
cities leading careful investigation OF the nuences
that tend to promote We have been pnshng the GRIM
nal for the of protecting society ana dong niue ese
The world coming recognize the necessity OF reaching
further back for the Of the evil and as consequence GRIM
inology receiving marked and unwoned degree OF
The wave of crime which has sweeping Vermont
has prepared the people of this state for an attentive nearing 10
all having remedies to suggest Those who enjoyed tne PRIV
ege Of listening the timely and interesting address OF super
uenden John s Barss of the State industrial school OF Yer
ideas need of the study OF crnnoogv I'D our
commonwealth. Superintendent Barss deals with what
popular side Of this broad subject while Dr.
Sears whose articles crminoogy attracting wide
attention confines consideration largely to the technical and
scientific aspects of the problem.
chief influences leading to crime hcrodty and
environment recognized crime in all its phases
be traced physical and sychca charac
tercs and tendencies to peculiar surroundings which help
o criminal propensties.
sparSey populated localities amid rural surround
ngs that Just fertile breeding places for crime as are the
rowd in great cities like London and Paris
Chicago In the annals Of crime the of
certain families and again generation after
another
recognized by all who have discussed the problem of
cminoogy in Vermont that confronted by conditions
that differ prevailing larger popua
rule than in character We have spots
in which crime and vice breed and flourish well families in
which criminal propensity has prcdomnated for generations
practical solution of the problem manfcsy involves the
adoption of measures to correct present criminals and TO
the multiplication Of the criminal class of the future This
both the proper treatment of the criminal such well
the correction Of those influences and conditions which tend
to pelpctuae criminal tendencies
The first step be taken therefore the reformation
far possible of the criminal Of to-day and the throwing of
wholesome influences around his living progeny if such there be-
The chief remedies for crime prompt Justice and the
overcoming Of all influences that would Interfere herewith: and
the adoption of and the promotion Of conditions
III penal and rormaory institutions that will transform the
offender into law-abiding individual
AS means to the latter end as has been pointed out by
Superintendent Barss DR. Sears various and others
is the separation of those crime and susceptible of
formation from the hardened and hopeless criminal
In instances. notably in Washington county proba
ton system has been adopted while in Chttenden county
somewhat similar result has been reached by aorlng prisoners
useful employment at times All means of this character
cards inmates of a ought to be extended throughout the
state.
still should be established institution
rounded by extensive lands where first offenders and those
and healthy exercise.
the fact that crime the outgrowth in small
degree of mental defects Superintendent Bass Joins other
students of crmnology in calling for thorough State
for children and adults who while not insane mentally de-
fcient
Vermont is to-day paying MASSACHUSETTS annually the
of $4,000 for the twenty unforunates of this class and
therefore partially performing its duty This is four per cent
$15OOOO
If State capitalize this expenditure and add
comparatively small appropriation could properly care for
double the number of mentally deficient with little in
Superintendent Barss is modest to say but provision
for mforas of this character could be made nowhere else
economically connection with the State Industrial school
Ncrgenncs. Whenever building to he erected in
connection with that institution the superintendent has the boys
under his charge learn how to work trade by assisting in
the and result he able TO to the State
part the expense. If in addition he have
$4,000 $4,000 would make possible the provision Of plant
for half hundred persons mentally de
fnt with practically increase in the administrative force
With this policy of for mental defcents and
number Of reforms could be accomplished
In addition caring for offenders and for those
tally deficient the authorities of the triple institutions could then
different quarters the normal boys and the
tally deficient boys and the boys having criminal instincts and
the could be pursued with the girls
In of time policy Of segregation will undoub
eddy be demanded State prison at Windsor and our
Of Correction Rutland but be this oppoun
useful employment coming be recognized
fundamental principles OF prison reform This
learn how honest living with indetermnate
and the probation system large factors IN the
problem of the reformation of criminals
Going beyond the reformation of the criminal of today
elimination Of the embryo criminal Of tomorrow"
employed this connection include
reproduction of the criminal family we'll the
conditions of environment which tend
TRANSFORMED environment the
else law morals religion and good citizenship the sink
holes of civilization.
la short we eliminate Vermont we'll elsewhere
the breeding places well the breeders Of