The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-03-03
TaE STATE pENITENTthRY

The articles hy Prof. ! { Heorey
expert pouologlst which appeared IN
the Times picayuBp the early part of
thu current week on the state PenIeu
tar, have naturally attracted wde at
tcntinu Some phases Of the manage
mpnt may come under crliicism, but
the major part Of the objections made
indtcl the whole population Of Louis
lana through their laws, Judges and
courts. This Ia true with regard 10
the incarceration al children of mere
youths In the penitcntiary To herd with
dcbased criminals
Prof Iieercy cites the ease ot a
child uf eight years newly received ut
the Walls tU serve a term uf eighteen
months for stealing q can of sardtnes'
Thus are seen tao evils Ia their worst
form. viz the sending of children to
the penitcntiafy and the disproportion-
ate sentence both too common IN
Louisiana and the latter one is hlI,
lng the state prison with cOnyicts fof
very slight reason indeed In the case
mentioned all that Vas needed fer a
theft SO small Was to punish the Young
stef at home, and keep him under slight
surveillance Hat had IT been man
who had committed the theft term OF
eighteen months would make the Judge
Who sentenced more blamewarthy than
the convict himself
The question Of stripes raised b.
Pref lieefey Is one with which all viii
agree who give the matter thought.
aud particularly those Who have had
opportunity Ia observe its effect upon
the prisoner himself There is no
reason Why he should b. punished with
uncoulh garh and cropped hair while
undergoing what Is too frequently an
excessive term of Imprisonment
The constitutional amendment adopt.
al at the last election relative tn lnye
nile courts should be III operation nov
So as 10 prevent the sending Of chill
aren To- the state peniieniiary As for
instances Of immortality. the only Won
der ia that there lis no more of IT con
silering the character Of The inmates
No prison regulation has ever yet been
devised So stringent that some prisoner
did nat eyade il Prof Heefey's sug
gestion of separate farm for female
couyicts would be open 10 the same
dangers. and only extreme care and
waichfulness would be- effective In
either case.
The penologists criticism of the food.
amount of work required, number Of
guards. etc, are naturally eolored by
the complaints of the men. as he was
not able. In the short time nf his visit,
to learn much at first hand II II stated
that he was three hours at the walls
and twenty six hours at Angola part
uf the latter period tteinR spent tn
sleep. We are mol apologists for our
state peuitentiary system, but con.
slider IL ~ a step forward from the
lease system, aud knowing that the
work Is done under great handicaps
particularly the lack of money SO are
Inclined to give the managers time Ia
work for better things.
The world il moving towards better
things along all lines Louisiana. a
backward child In some respects, h
learning 60 catch stnp With progress
and a nohlef humanity, and IN time will
learn the best way 10 handle her
prisoners
We suggest as simplifying process
that NJ elimination. IN reduce the mum
Der of prisoners for state handling An
awakened public sentiment should dis
courage The courts from p'1UounetnE
pcuitcntlafy sentences for minor Of
fences. aud should Insist upon reason
able aud just sentences without regard
tn race II has always seemed to US an
idle practice for people la assemble tn
churches and ash just God To- Bless
their land when they are constantly
abusing their powers Of mercy and al
Justice