The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1912-04-25
OF CRIMINALS.
New York Aims to Eliminate Trans
mis- sion of Crime Tendencies.

/
mis- sion of Crime Tendencies.
Albany, n. y, April 20.-The bill
introduced by Assemblyman Bush
which aims to eliminate as much as
possible the transmission Of criminal
and mentally deficient tendencies
from parent TO child has become a
La. through the signature o. Cover
nor Dix. 1t is the outcome OF a
movemen which has been on foot
for several years and has had the
strong support of physicians and
criminologists, as well as members
Of the judiciary In adopting such
law New York is following the ex-
ample of New Jersey, Illinois, and
other states.
The new law Is in the form of an
additional section to the public
health law and provides for the ster
ilization of certain classes of male
criminals and detectives confined
In state institutions. The law
creates a board to be known as the
board Of examiners of feeble mind
ed, criminals, and other detectives
to have supervision over the matter,
the board to be made up OF one sur
geon, one neurologist, and one medi-
cal practitioner, each with 10 years
experience.
II this board after an examination
finds that an inmate of the class
by the law would transmit
TO his offspring a tendency to crime,
or feeble mlndedness, or
that his own mental or physical con-
ditlon would be improved thereby |
1t is TO appoint one of its members |
TO perform the necessary operation.
The criminals who come within
the operation CT the law are those
who have been convicted Of rape or
Of such succession OF offenses as
the board may decide to afford suf-
ficlent evidence of confirmed crimi-
nal tendencies. The board also is
required TO examine into the mental
and physical condition, the record
and family history Of all male feeble
epileptic, and other defec-
i've persons In the state institutions
come within the operation Of the
aw.
While the beard thus created ls
made the judge of~sSs habitual Grim
naiity Of prisoners, provision is
made for judicial review OF the
Of the board before the
necessary operation Is performed,
md no order OF the board can be
'ome effective until II has been
lied for five days. Careful records
ire TO be kept OF the effect Of the
avs application upon those who
ome within It's provisions.
DIR R, r Bush. who has fathered
he new law, Is physician from
'hemung and has been greatly In
In getting 1t on the statute
'ooks, believing. with many others,
hat II will result IN reducing the
lumber OF criminals and defective
ersons by preventing confirmed
riminals and Others from becoming
arentg.
Advocates Of the sterilization Of
uch persons have pointed TO the
reat increase In the number of in
rates Of prisons and asyiuns OF the /
tate In recent years,due IN large I
leasnre, II is commended 20 the ]
-ansmlssion Of such tendencies from
lther to child Judge Fawcett said !;
j Brooklyn
The placing Of our statute books Z
the Law providing for the steriil-
aiion of habitual criminals. the
ieprabis insane and those convicted !
certain Vicious crimes. demon ,
rating degeneracy and base immor Z
"a a decided advance along lines Z
at may well be calculated 10 check !
ily. Il a step In the right direction =
reyen, and stamp out crime !