Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-12
CORRECTIVE AND TRAINING PUR-
POSES ESTABLISHED IN PENAL
INSTITUTIONS.
JUDGE WITHRCW OUTLINES
PAROLE BOARD IDEAS
Threat Of Punishment Must Be Upheld
As Bar Against Crime While
Humane Treatment is Accorded Law
Volators Undergoing Punishment
Divides Criminals Into Glasses.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican
Des Moines March 12.-lmprison-
ment in the state prisons is not looked
upon solely as a punishment for some
crime which has been committed but 1t
is also for corrective and training pur-
poses, Judge w. S. Withrow, member
of the state board of parole and former
judge of the Iowa supreme court de-
clared today in an address 10 the quar-
terly conference of state board of con-
troll superintendent. The subject OF
his address was the state and the
prisoner"
Crime is essentially a question OF
bad morals" he said, land when crime
is committed, broadly speaking, there
should be punishment. | do not believe
as do. some that Imprisonment follow
ing conviction of crime should be only
for corrective and training purposes.
II believe in such administration and
enforcement of the laws that there
shall always appear before the possible
wrongdoer the threat of punishment
and the certainty that penalty will
quickly follow the wrongful act I be
lieve the punishment should be such
as to measure fairly the restitution
which the man himself in loss of his
liberty must make for the wrong he
has done a punishment of such nature
that there will be warning to others.
But l do not approve punishment that
is vindictive and revengeful nor that
which loses sight of the possible good
tn no h1,h ha
comes the subject of the sternness OIL
the law; for society has never been
strengthened, it's people never made
made secure against wrong nor has the
prisoner ever been made better by too
severe means used in the treatment of
criminals"
Needs Fair Treatment.
Judge Withrow pointed out that the
prisoner should be so treated that he
may in time become social asset in
stead of remaining a public liability.
He said. the lock step and the shaved
head no longer have a place in Iowa
prisons and except in few instances
the stripes are not now worn in Iowa
prisons.
Today Imprisonment is regarded
not solely as a means of punishment
nor as permanent degra dation," he
said. ITO avoid that in proper way
and to make right use of the means
provided by which if they will. the
prisoners may be helped, it has been
necessary that those having the work
in charge should study crime and
criminals.
Criminals, some of whom are weak
and helpless. others strong and vicious,
still others strong but victims of errors,
but all for the time requiring the super
vision of the state. While they vary as
do individuals, each man differing from
all others in some feature of his crime
and some. or at times many elements
going to his mental and moral self
Judge Withrow declared that GRIM
inals were divided into three classes
The accidental criminal, the incor-
risibles and the detectives and ir-
responsibles. He said the second class
named were the hardest to deal with
but that there are instances where the
proper word and thoughtful assistance
have brought good results with this
class these are sufficient to require a
study of the cases individually that no
situation that may return good should
be overlooked.
He pointed out that prison reform
recognizes the convict as a human be-
ing and that the men should be given
help and encouragement along right
lines instead of knocks. He reviewed
the parole law and the indeterminatc
sentence under which the man going t.,
prison realizes that his maximum sem
tence is SO much and that this will b.
reduced on good behavior. There is
ever incentive for him to reform under
these conditions, he declares.