The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-04
PRISON REWARDS
WORKED WONDERS
1-nrulv Convicts Have Become
Self-Respecting in Earn
ing Privileges.
CONDITIONS SATISFACTORY
Charities Board Has Highest
Praise for Management OF
Penitentiary.

.simplv marvellous" is the express
.io, used bv the state Board of Chari-
ties and Corrections in its annual re-
,ort in commenting on the results or
- system Of awards introduced IN the
STATE Peniientiary by superintendent
lanes r Wood Giving rewards Tor
roos conduct has created a spirit or
Sslf-~esuect. has decreased punish
-,..~ts IN q large degree. and. says the
-a-.,r. IS perhaps the greatest sin
80 -hfrc done for improved discipline
-. rhe penitentiary was opened
q. v-ususlly large amount OF space
ST. re rosrl'S publication. social Ser
49, e. Virginia" which Is the title
& report this year. is devoted 10
s>r- q TIE state prison. This,
= exclaimed Is due TO ths advance
Is ,s made IN the method Of employ.
-o.-- &C convict labor, whereby half
al, r-s orsrs are 10 be put TO work on
-s.- ~-a-s~ roads 80 complimentary IS
30 ->s-s..es board Of the present
t.,.s.srs--e1t HAT Il says conditions
ste-s - o-l5 -ow be = source Of deep
a., -.f.-s-.-r - the Commonwealth
spirit of Place Praised.
.Rf are S.ad 20 report, II says,
...na- -s-s institution is in good con
ai-lor SID .hat the provisions of law
:uU -ns equations Of the penitentiary
l,0s~f 81 regard 10 the treatment Of
.,,~,sf-,t~s are observed 10 the letter.
Vs ms re cells clearly and well
i.efG me tooL ample and OF good quail
a., -ns asks reasonable. the shops
nrae-lr -he hospital in a sanitary con-
surio. and she discipline good.
rev p--ishments are inflicted. the
,1-iSnr,..--s Seef contented as could be
s,-,nsr-eL IN the circumstances. there
itvs nst- no reports Of misconduct.
,.rueirr % regulation on the part of
,lrtgnr e-rloyes. The accounts of the
institution are we'll kept. and records
.l~f 81 kept that the prison career of
.lltv ,.-- vsct may be seen at a glance.
1r asliIion. a spirit OF cooperation
slnC h---snity pervades the place with
1i--ls II The gruesome ill-will that
.eill-sr5erizes many institutions of this
t-1Ess
Discussing the system of awards in
--oduced and carried out by Superin
ten6ent Wood. the board says that Of
fetal proceeds upon the principle that
the average man will respond to JUS
tice and will appreciate n recognition
of his good conduct. The rewards are
as follows: % Every prisoner who
spends six months il prison without
an infraction of rules is given a good
conduct button; 90 every prisoner
who has a like record for one years is
allowed TO discard his striped cap and
20 wear a blue cap. furnished by the
penitentiary; (3) every prisoner whose
record is clean for eighteen months is
given a pair of soft shoes. instead of
the usual rough shoes in use; Cd
every prisoner whose record is clean
for two years is allowed to write home
every thirty days. instead of every
two months
Proud of Good Conduct.
Il Wah found by the board that
many prisoners who had violated prac-
tically every rule became ambitious
for these rewards. and. by good con-
duct won one or more of them. They
were found proudly displaying their
good conduct buttons and manifestly
self-respectinS by this token
1T dinner time il was found that
more than half OF those who have been
IL the prison as long as one year were
wearing blue caps. During the last
few years the number of punishments
has dropped from an average of seven
in three days to one in three days.
in comment. the report says In
commencing this system We wish to
suggest IFS extension as rapidly as the
judgment OF the superintendent will
deem wise. Indeed. we take the posi-
ZION that everything that can be done
70 decrease the distress OF prisoners.
while maintaining discipline and in
creasing Self-respect. should be done.
We must never overlook the fact that
the prison j. q world in itself. and
that, relatively speaking. ii is com
posed Of all sorts Of men. Some un-
fcrtGnates VIII not respond to kind
ness OF appreciate mercy. others may
b. expected, with slight encourage
msnt u lay the foundations ~ future
sclf-Tcspect and usefulness Classifi-
cation Is r. first essential Of penOiogy.
and while every prisoner should he
given exact justice. The good men
should be- mace to feel that their oh
servsnce 81 necessary rules viii meet
with quick and sympathetic approval
and commeudatiOu-