Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-03-23
PLANS 10 CORRECT
 PRISON EVILS Atty Gen. Wickersham Will Give Penitentiaries I'm mediate Attention. A REWARD SYSTEM ParOled Prisoners Have Every Chance in the World of "Mak-
 ing G00d.''
REWARD SYSTEM
(By JONATHAN WINFIELD)

most important acts that Attorney General McReynolds will perform dur ing his administration of affairs of the Department of Justice, will be to correct the present methods of prison administration in the federal peniten- tiaries. The penitentiaries at Allan ta. Georgia, Fort Leaven worth, Kan sas, and McNeil Island, Washington are under the jurisdiction of the de- partment. In each of these institu- tions, the attorney general will en- deavor to bring about many reforms. 1t is his purpose to so administer the affairs of these institutions that they will become models from which the various states can obtain inside information on how to handle crim- inals and how to bring about the re- formation of the degenerate.
 At Atlanta. Georgia, the government boasts that one of the most modern institutions in the world has been es- tablished. The measures adopted there for the care of prisoners dur ing their incarceration and of govern ment guardianship after they have been discharged. are looked upon by criminologists as one of the greatest advancements that has been accom- plished by this or any other govern ment
 At Leavenworth. however. the fed eral government has not been as lib- eral in the treatment of prisoners as the Atlanta penitentiary. It is eX- plained by those who have charge of this institution that there is an en- iirely different character of men sent there than to the Atlanta penitentiary. A McNeil's Island reforms have not been general.
 This is not because there is any dis position not to bring about reforms in the management of this institution but because all reforms that have been started by the government have so far been of an experiment nature. At lanta was selected for the experiments because of it's prOXmity to Washington and because it is constantly under the watchful eye of officials of the De- partment of Justice. There, too, are sent the government prisoners who have only technically" violated the law, different class of men, it is explained from those who are incar- cerated ill the other penitentiaries.
 Many fiction stories are published from time to time of the hardships en- countered by first offenders after their terms expire when they endeav or to reform and decide never again to lead the life of criminal. To some extent officials believe that offenders or prisoners, do have hard time trying to be good after they leave prison. To help the first offenders after they have quit their prison cell, is one of the greatest problems that confront criminologists. The federal and state parole laws have helped greatly.
 Robert V. Ladow. the superintend ent of federal prisons and perhaps one of the best versed men in the country on the after treatment of prisoners. is authority for the state ment that the federal government has to large extent solved this perpleN- ing problem. Under existing law pa roled prisoners have every chance in the world of making good if they desire. One third of their sentence is taken off as bonus for good behav- ior When man is paroled. he is placed in the custody of some friend who vouches for his department and reports the progress that the former inmate is making toward living an upright life.
 The federal government keeps tally every six months on these probation CTS and the indexes show very few men who break their bond. To a great extent the prisoners incarceration determines his after life. Associa- tions formed in the penitentiary are often. it is said. responsible for the conduct of prisoners after they leave the institutions Inequalities of sen tence, harsh treatment and numerous other instances that occur during the prisoners time in jail all are matters that come before the superintendent of prison.
 Through Ladow's efforts a federal board of parole has been established which has advocated many reforms touching these matters. The indeter- minate sentence is one of the ad vances that have been made in the