Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-26
DUEHAY FOR
NEW PENAL
METHODS
New Head of u. S. Prisons to
Make Personal Study of the
Atlanta Institution.

WASHINGTON. Jan. EFT find
Mr. McReynolds greatly concerned
about the Atlanta prison" said Fran
els H. Duehay, of Washington, the
new Superintendent of Federal Pris-
ons, at noon to-day, after a long CON
He went over the entire situation as
to the management of the three pris-
ons with me, and gave me some OF. his
IDEAS, He is especially interested in
the reorganization of the Atlanta in
stitutIon, but until | am sworn into
Office tomorrow and get a direct line
on the prison work | have nothing to
give out.
'Of course, | win visit Atlanta and
look into matters there. but ] must
first investigate the workings OF the
office here from every standpoint" he
continued. u visited the Leavenworth
prison year ago, and made d num-
Der of commentators about it to
the Attorney General. My plan sim
ply will be to put into effect his plans
in every respect and to make the At
lanta prison a model. Where there is
so much complaint and agitation there
is something wrong
Will Quit if He Fails.
Il hope to better conditions; If
find that ! can not l will quit the Of
fee"
Duehay was for many years mem
her of the board Of trustees for the
Washington Juvenile School, which is
In fact the Federal reformatry, and
as such his attention was first at
tracted to penal affairs.
Il have certain ideas about prison
management" said Mr.. Duehay, and
they are as applicable to the Atlanta
institution as they are to any prison.
l always have thought that criminal
eased mind and that a sound body
makes a sound mind. and shall there
fore first endeavor to make the bodies
of the men sound by proper treat
ment.
"Why not make the prisoner look
upon the prison as home" | saw
convict leave the prison at Leaven-
worth and go to the woods and work
all day and then come to the prison
at night just as if it was his home.
have not been inclined to believe all
the stories of atrocities committed in
prisons, but undoubtedly there are
great injustices done to convicts by
subordinateS of which the officials
higher up know nothing.
Favors Court of Complaint.
ITO remedy this | have thought
that a court established for the pris
oners, where their troubles and com
plants could be heard, would be
good thing. and why not at Atlanta
These cases of cruelty could be
traced down and it could be seen to
that acts OF oppression on the part
of guards could be reported and the
guards punished just as prisoners are
punished ! have never been for
making a hero of the prisoner and
while he has not at all times given
society a square deal. | believe in
giving him a square deal and | see
no reason why the nation should take
a prisoner and break him. body and
soul. because ne has for some rea-
son failed to give the world a square
deal
OF course you can never tell what a
prisoner is going to do next, and each
case is an individual one and | hope
to inaugurate a new system with a
view of handling each prisoner in an
individual manner"
Mr. Duehay said that he would
probably not get to Atlanta TO con-
duct his investigation until after
February /, but he would take the
institution up personally. He says
he knows none of the officials at the
Atlanta prison and prefers TO know
conditions before he knows the men
responsible for conditions, good or
bad.