The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-04-25
BAD j. S. NAVAL men
Men of War Who Violate Laws
Divided Into Two Classes.
Offenders Promising Reform Are Sent
as "Detentioners" to Disciplinary
Barracks, Others Receive
Hard Work.

Washtngton.-Naval prisoners are
divided into two broad classes; first.
those convicted of offenses involving
moral turpitude or violation of gen
eral laws of the country, and, second,
those convicted Of purely military of
fepses. In order that young naval
prisoners who have been guilty only
of military offenses may not be COM
PEELED to associate with criminals. Of
tenders of the first class are sent to
state prisons. There they are sub
jected to the rules and discipline of
the institution in which they are con-
fined in the same manner as persons
as to reduction of sentence for good
conduct they receive the same benefit
as men confined in naval prisons The
state Irisons in which such naval pris-
oners are confined are the Connecticut
state prison, Wethersfield, Conn; the
New Hampshire state prison, Concord,
~ H., and the California state prison,
San Quentin, Cal
Certain offenders Of the second
class, whose previous records have
been bad or afford little foundation on
which to base hopes of reform, or
whose retention in the service is for
other reasons regarded not desirable,
are sent to naval prisons or prison
ships, where they perform hard labor,
but are saved from association with
criminals. These naval prisons and
prison ships are in satisfactory
shape as to discipline and sanitary
conditions. All prisoners are requir-
ed to do outdoor work, thus removing
the depressing effect of constant in
door confinement. They are generally
in better physical condition when dis
charged from prison than when they
are received. The food is ample in
quantity, of good quality and is well
cooked
Offenders of the second class, whose
previous records give hope of reform,
are sent to what are known as naval
disciplinary barracks" These offend
ers are called "detentioners" instead
of prisoners; they continue TO wear
their naval uniform instead Of the
prison garb, and instead of perform
ing hard labor" they are put through
drills and instructions, with view to
increased efficiency when restored to
duty. These detentioners, although
deprived of liberty and pay during de-
tention, escaped the ignominy which
attaches to persons who have served
term in prison. After detentioner
has satisfactorily served two-thirds of
the period to which he is sentenced,
he is placed on probation at the dis
ciplinary barracks, and, as far as pos
sible, with duties similar to those per-
formed by other enlisted men in the
navy. During the probationary period
the detentioner is carefully observed
by the officers in charge, and if his
conduct warrants such action he is I'M
conditionally returned to general duty.
This last provision makes it possible
for any detentioner at the disciplinary
barracks whose sentence includes dis
honorable discharge to save himself
from such a discharge.
By the establishment Of the deten-
ton system and the consequent abil-
ity to segregate offenders of the differ
ent classes the whole subject of pris-
oners in the navy has, in general,
been developed along modern ideas of
prison reform.
The disciplinary barracks now in
use by the government are at Port
Royal, S. c., and Puget sound, Bremen
ton, Wash.