Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-16

we need not trouble about reform, Tor
prisons do that to perfection, and no
reform is needed
After outlining the conditions and
daily life of the prisoner, the follow
ing recommendations are made:
Concrete Recommendations.
Yes, we need to reform our prisons.
But what is needed? First an entire
change in the attitude Of the public
toward the man behind the bars.
Two governors of states have said,
NV belief is that three -fourths of
the men who are sent to the peni-
tertiary are not criminals at hear,
are really not worse than thousands
who, through some turn of fortunes
wheel escape the stigma of a peni
Tertiary term" If this view be cor
rect we conclude that more than
three -fourths of them could be made
useful citizens.
Again, the idea of punishment is
wrong. Send a man to prison if you
WILL but let it be for detention and
reform. No need to plan for punish,
ment. The discipline and the loss OF
liberty will punish without leaving 8.
sting behind. Treatment that is coa-
structiye, not destructive, is what is
needed
Second, we need a new prison
Maine may have the power to de-
prive a man of liberty, but she has
no right to deprive him of sunlight
and air, things necessary to health
But so long as men are confined in
the tiny cells in Thomaston this will
"a That nricn,, iS
for use.
Third, there should be a more sys-
tennatic and determined effort tie
teach men trades. At the present
time warden is judged by the finan-
cial showing that he makes more than
other things. So long as this be the
| case. so long it will be impossible f..
any warden to do the best things for
the men. The teaching men trade
would be costly in the lessened out
put, but it would be profitable in this
better fitting of the discharged mcr
to live honest lives.
Fourth, there should be a great adj
vance in the school work done for thc
men. The system in operation in
Charlestown. Mass, state prison pro
duces splendid results. and could be
worked in Maine with equal success
In Charlestown much of the work is
done by the better educated prison
ers. A regular course of study is
followed, and many men have taker
that course, and in all the number
who have taken it, only three have
again served time at that prison.
Fifth, the method of enforcing dis
mir h1 I'd dur
and a withholding of these as result
of bad conduct, which has been uset
of late. has produced splendid re-
| suits, and should be extended ant
made permanent. The dark dungeon
with no heat, no light, no ventila,
ton. no bed. scant food and water. Is
/ inhuman. relic of the dark ages
and. as months of the other methot
have shown, unnecessary.
Sixth. the power of the Board o.
| Paroles should be enlarged. There
should be no man in the prison who
could not. by meeting proper tests. bf
| eligible to the parole.
Seventh. more emphasis should ht
| laid on the effort to reform men. VIZ
make a costly mistake in thinking ol
] the prisoners as hopeless cases, 81
/ hard to reach. The trouble is no
/ with the men. but in that we have
not planned to do a definite work FOL
them. We are too intent of the pun
! ishment part of the sentence, ans
1 foget the reform part. AS result
men are often released who are ut
! terly untrustworthy, dangerous Il
/ property and life, but they havi
! served their time and been punished
| and under our system must be dis
charged. As another result, Nor
who have been completely reformed
| have been kept in prison for MANY
weary years after the time wheT
| they had become safe citizens, ant
for no other reason than that the
| had not received as much punishment
| as was deemed their due.
Lastly, something should be dont
toward the segregation of the prison
ers both with regard to health anf
morals. First offenders and lifelons
| criminals should not be allowed u
| mingle Unfortunately. How thi:
segregation could be made successful