Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-03
The Legislature Should Reform
GeOrgia's Whole Penitentiary
SYSTEM

The Georgia Legislature when in June should take
under serious adement not only the question abolish
ing the whipping post Georga penentiary system but the
further reformation of the system along other lines.
The Georgian thinks it rather certainty that the whip
ping post will be definitely and specifically ouawed in this
state-bOth wisdom and justice demand that.
This relic of the scredted discarded old system
must gohe people do not desire that the State convcts shall
be handled like vicious animals!
will be argued by loose-thining people that
whipping of certain classes of convcsthe hardened
these people will call themis necessary They will say
hardened ones" not be controlled otherwise.
That ancient faacy exploded often and utterly
that is listened to with patience by enlightened prison
workers and observers of prison conditions nowadays
Instead of holding convict face face with the WHIP
PING POST incentive good conduct it will be found
upon trial. be much plan hold
to face with SUBSTANTIAL REWARD.
And to this end nothing far has been found the light
of experience in other States to work well the nderm
nate sentence.
If Georgia will say to her convic ALL you be-
have and show yourselves worthy will your sentences
surely and unmstakably rather than IF you
and show yourselves worthy will beat you with strap it
will be found that the promise of reward effective and
produces lasting results for good than does the threat of
punishment
Under the old things convict looked upon by
the authorities of the State of chatte-an
ASSET from a material standpoint.
As matter of fact convict a emphatic LIABII-
ITY and he should be treated as such
Under the old lease system the longer convict kept
in prison. and the frequently
worth in dollars and cents the lessee and the
Under such mistaken system of handling a convict in
evaby the reformation and correction of the hayward
lost sight of all but entirely and became question get
ting maximum amount Of labor and profit from him during
his period of incarceration-AND THE MORE REASONS
EXCUSES THAT COULD BE FOUND FOR Furnishing HIM
FOR MISCONDUCT THE MORE CERTAIN 1T BECAME
THAT EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY NEVER WOULD REACH
HIM AND THAT THE FULL TERM OF HIS SENTENCE
MUST BE SERvEDl
TO ndeerminate termsto convict for instance You
must serve not less than two than five years I'm
mediatey upon beginning THAT sentence there would
opened to the convict involved THE DOOR OF HOPE.
The promise of substantial good conduct
worthy example would be definite and precise
merit system of daily accounting for that convict would be
possible to appeal constantly and connuouslynot only
better nature but his profit TO
HIM by reason Of rightly conducting himself
The responsibility upon State preserve peace good
order among its citizens PREACHING and it involves much
than the PUNISHMENT of persons convicted of
crime
When a State over criminal and makes of him.
through sensible and humane prison system incapable
of future crime the rendered greater service
to the people than when merely Furnishes him for nac
ton of the law and leaves him apt than
apt as before-to commit crime again
And so, while the whipping post MUST GO in Georgia
recent horrible and dsgracefu stories of abuse and msapped
authority in that direction have made the going little
speedy than otherwise might have perhapst
do for the Legislature to stop there and content itself with the
idea that the last shred and patch the old system
Progressive legislation matter prison control and
operation must be enacted.
Hereafter the idea of REFORM in Georgia convict camps
must take high precedence the idea of PUNISHMENT
The sincere making of convicts should be primary
purpose of the convict system of Georgia
The basic idea very simple your boy something
wrong it not nearly much that you wish PUNISH
for what he has done that you wish NEVER DO
WRONG AGAIN.