The Alaska citizen., 1911-11-27
A NATIONWIDE REFORM.

There is a growing movement in
this country. as pleasing as 1t is
noiseless. 1t has made itself felt
at widely distant points simultane-
ously Originated in every
case II seems and always with
the srme results. 1t has to do with
the handling and reforma ton of
cCnvicts
Take the case of the Montpelier
| Jail, in the state Of Vermont Its
| inmates are trusted as are other
| men. They come and go almost as
| freely as do the members of the
| jailer's family. The machinery Of
punishment is kept out Of sight as
| far as possible. all suggestions Of
! personal disgrace are suppressed
| and al energies are bent upon the
cultivation Of hope and courage and
self-rcopect in the hearts of the
men. The prisoners are caused TO
feel that their reformation and re-
storation to society is the object of
Of the state, and they personally
must help in accomplishing these
ends. Appeals arc accordingly made
TO their better natures. an open
door of hope and usefulness is set
before them. and they are urged to
enter II.
In this effort to save men to the
state and to themselves comradcship
is a powerful factor. The jailer be-
gan four years ago with a han lful
Of men. He breathed courage into
them inspired them with self-re-
spect by treating them with respect
himself. He put them upon their
honor, trusted them out of his sight,
and took their word without a mo-
ments hesitation as to their move
ments beyond the confines of the
prison. Nor was this appeal to
their honor made in vain. 1t general
ed in this handful of men most
valuable and ennobling esprit
corps. which acted like leaven upon
the rest. AS other prisoners were
added from time to time, they came
| under the power Of this influence,
and were gradually transformed by
| It, Landing in an institution
where they expected to be treated
as brutes, but finding to their as,
constituent that they were treated
as men they responded to the new
environment and conducted them
selves as self-respecting men.
In this reform the Montepelier jail
er had the help of the citizens of
Of the town, who sent to him for
laborers, gave his prisoners work
and paid them for it, and the jailer
also made TWO important provisions
One was to provide against idleness
He saw that every prisoner was
suitably employed for ten working
hours each day. Another was to
supply a motive for labor. All that
a man earned in a day above a dol
lar was his own. The state claims
dollar, the pay of each man is
s1.75. 80 that each man earns rs
cents a day for himself He may
have the jailer keep this money
for him until he is discharged. or
else he may have 1t sent each week
to those who are dependent upon
him at home.
The men walk the streets of Mon
tepelier unattended and wear nc
stripes or other distinguishing dress
They go and come from work ex
actly as other laborers do. At times
they are permitted TO attend a cir
Gus or other places of amusement
and return to the Jail without a
guard In the four years during
which this plan Of treatment has
been in operation, the number OF
but two out of the 800 betrayed
Inmates total 800. In all that time
their trust and tried to run away
They were promptly captured and
sent for long terms to the house OF
correction.
The success of the Montpelier ex.
pertinent is pronounced by experts
to be unqualified. The men leave
the institution in rugged health
They have money. They have form.
ed habits Of industry, and every one
has a trade. They depart buoyant
and cheerful. inspired with courage
and hope.
For several years a like system
Of trust has been pursued towards
prisoners in the penitentiaries of
Colorado The state uses them as
laborers in building and repairing
public roads. Often as many as a
hundred are in camp, miles away
from the prison for weeks at q
time. The guards who attend them
are not armed. The men work eight
hours day, and after supper they
go swimming or play ball. or take
long walks in the mountains. They
must all be In camp by 9 p. m. SO
far there has not been a single at.
tempt at escape.
A week or two ago at the state
reformatory farm, near Buena Vista,
a bunch Of cattle. numbering 100
head, became frightened. broke