The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-06-28

peals that all the men will understand
and not by "lccturing."
Although the Honor Farm" sign at
Joliet has been torn down and anoth
or bearing the words state Farm"
substituted, prisoners considered
worthy are being trusted in the same
way. Instead of making promises,
however, the prison officials inform
the prisoners who go to the farm that
their cases depend entirely on the sort
of service rendered and that curtail-
ment of sentences, where lawful, will
result only from work well done and
a disposition to live right lives TN
der the present arrangement, cases
are reviewed every year and recon-
mendations made. Men go to the farm,
therefore, bearing a weight of respon-
siblity.
Not only at the state prison farm,
but throughout the entire prison sys-
tom of the state, the same policy is
being worked out.
Mr. Whitman's whole scheme of
management avowedly is intended to
act for the reclamation of men and
the actual building of character with.
In the walls.
"To do this" he says. "there must
be an exhaustive. careful and intelli-
gent study of each Individual so that
all will be understood, their weakness.
es recognized and treatment prescrib-
ed that will meet their individual
needs, whether II be treatment for
physical or mental health. to over
come lack of proper training Or the
effect of bad environment. insufficient
education, habits of idIeness or any
Of tho many other things that tend to
contribute toward delinquency and
crime"
"In order to reach the desired goal
In reclaiming the man who has sin
ned against society and finds himself
behind prison walls, three steps arc
cited by Mr.. Whitman as necessary:
First. Proper treatment OF the men
tally and physically sick
Second. classification according to
needs and abilities of individual in
mates.
Third. A progressive merit sys-
tenn working toward freedom.
This progressive merit system" he
states being thing that is entirely
visible to the prisoners, serves to
maintain discipline and promise in.
dustry as well as fit them for useful
careers i'm after life"
In the new prison at Joliet. now be.
ing constructed, ii is planned to have
three sections. the first for those who
enter the institution, the second for
those who have shown themselves
worthy of greater trust and able to
assume some responsibility. and the
third where considerable freedom will
be afforded in cottages outside the
prison walls proper The prison farm
in the cooperative system is to offer
the final opportunity for self express
sion on the part of men.
''ln the second class" Mr. Whitma,
says, largest opportunity for study
of prisoners will come. Then will pre-
sent Itself the greatest opportunity fol
real educational work. We know b,
that time and knew what to do t.
hcip them get permanently fixed II
class two where real progress begins
II is at this time they also begin Il
earn consideration for parole and real
ize fully that whatever consideratio,
they get is due to merit only. The,
begin also to understand somethn,
about the length of time IL will tax,
i, them To undergo the treatment neces
sary to tit themselves for parole an,
decent citizenship.
"Thus gradually the prison restrain
is removed and tho prisoners ar
: placed more and more upon their owl
= responsibility. They have. up unit
this time, been under the restraint q
+ prison walls and more or less reliau
upon prison rules. However the
nave graduated out of cells into sn,a
! dorlnitorics and have thus far show
4 their ability To adapt themselves [
y progressive merit system.
Nov the authoritis can well "a
ford to tcst them as to their ability /
govern themselves and their reliabil
W when placed upon their own T.,
!. sponsiblity, living as villagers wit
walls removed, the test being thu
thcy, IN small groups in cottages, ca
demonstrate their ability to adar
/ themselves to community life.
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