The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-03-05
PRISONERS ABNORMAL
Properly Dealing With Them
is a Delicate Task and
Requires Much Patience
and Experience.

Every man or woman sent to 6
lenitentlary if not abnormal before
arriving, becOmee Sc at once after
their commitments; for the restraint
of liberties brings about an abnor.
NAL condition.
The normal man desires to care
for himself, provide his own home
go and come at his own election.
carry on business, mingle freely
with his fellows, IN fact to do as be
pleases. Now when he is not per-
hitted to do these things he is in an
abnormal condition, and if thus
helpless for number of years be-
comes very subnormal.
The condition then is just this In
any prison; if man is abnormal be-
fore he goes to prison: he becomes
more so from his confinement and if
normal before the sentence, he be-
comes abnormal after his confne-
ment.
Seeing that this Is true the prison
should be in the hands of the most
carefully trained men for the work.
No man, no matter who he is, can
be qualified for the job simply be-
cause he happens to be Democrat
or Republican. There must be a
training for it, and by training we
do not mean simply practice in man
herding the capacity of police
man or sheriff Tor example. Every
one seeking employment in a prison
should be required to pass rigid
physical. mental, and moral exam
nation.
The dealing with several hundred
abnormal folks is no small task.
The object should be in every case
to build up if possible, and not to
irritate, for the more an abnormal
man is irritated the more abnormal
he will become. No normal man
will take a cursing from another
without anger at least showing it in
the face. and IN most instances in a
most pugnacious manner. What
must be the turbulency of soul in
an already abnormal man when he
has to endure profanity delivered at
him and he has no chance back.
This is not done very often in prison
for most guards would scorn to do
such cowardly thing. but once in
any place is too often.
Prisoners are Nervous
The average prisoner is more or
lees nervous, and isnot by any means
equal in services to normal man.
Many prisoners are sorely in need of
nerve rest, and medical treatment
IN most cases is greatly needed.
The time is not far distant when
each case will be carefully studied
by a competent neurologlst, and
treatment given accordingly.
An abnormal person is usually not
only nervous but very sensitive.
Also with sensitiveness Their is more
or less of suspiciousness suspicious
of the actions and words of even
best friends. Therefore too much
care cannot be exercised in paro]ing
men; for if an injustice is done
man in prison by any official, the
prisoner is done irreparable harm.
He never forgets it and often be-
comes more criminal in his ten
denotes.
Judging from the after affects of
people refused parole, it would be
better to have the prisoners case so
we'll in hand that when he comes be-
fore the Board release would be the
result.
Many men are almost untitled for
work because of being refused
parole. Nothing so CRATES on the
nerves as to get turned down"
when release is expected. If there
is good reason for retaining the
prisoner he should be advised of the
fact before he goes to the Board;
for being in an abnormal condition
physically and as to en-
he cannot hold his bal
ance like a normal person.
Not being in a normal condition,
The prisoner should be handled &C
His mental, physical and
moral surroundings should be such
IS to induce reformation where that
10 possible. Bulletin.