Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-06-21

in MANAGING
PRISONS IN I'LL,
Prisoners Informed that
Conduct and Work Will
Decide Length of Terms

opIINSlclU Liz julie Ola GU.
operative system of prison MANAGE
ment in Illinois already is we'll under
way. 1t is the product of John
Whitman. superintendent Of prisons,
and has the approval Of Governor
Lowden and Charles H. Thorne. di-
rector of the department Of welfare.
Quietly but none the less effectively
the Honor Farm" at the Joliet
p~enitentiary has los its identity and
in its place has grown up the CO.
operative system Of procedure where,
MI. Whitman says, distractions have
been eliminated. No less emphasis Is
placed on the worth Of the honorable
conduct, he points out. but an at
tempt is being made to gain the end
by appeals that all the men will UNI
derstand and not by featuring"
Although the Honor Farm sign
at Joliet has been torn down and an
other bearing the words Estate
Farm" substituted, prisoners consid-
cred worthy are being trusted in the
same way. Instead Of making prom
Uses, however, the prison officials in
form h prisoners who go to the
farm that their cases depend entirely
on the sort Of service rendered and
that curtailment of sentences. where
lawful, will result only from work
well done and a disposition to live
right lives. Under the present ar
rangement, cases are reviewed every
year n recommendations made.
Men go to the farm, therefore, bear
ing a weight of responsibility.
Not only at the state prison farm,
but throughout the entire prison sys-
tenn of the state, the same, policy is
being worked out.
Mr.. Whitman's whole scheme Of
~ IN @,,o,,~lI,, t. s-k--I-I A.
act for the reclamation Of men and
the actual building Of character
within the walls.
I do this" he says. there must
be an exhaustive, careful and intelli-
gent study of each individual so that
all will be understood, their weak
nesses recognized Inc treatment pre-
scribed that will meet their indi-
vidual needs, whether it be treatment
overcome lack of proper training or
the effect of bad environment, insult
fcient education, habits Of idleness' or
any of the many other things that
tend to contribute toward delin-
quency and crime"
In order to reach the desired goal
in retaining the man who has sin
ned against society and finds himself
behind prison walls, three steps are
SASSu Ny WI. W11AIIIldl DIS necessary.
First. Proper treatment of the
mentally and physically sick.
Second. Classification according to
needs and abilities of individual in
mates.
Third. A progressive merit system
working toward freedom.
This progressive merit system"
he states, being a thing that is en-
tirely visible to the prisoners. serves
IN vooi~<oS~ 5;eo;~l;-@ 1-
industry as we'll as fit them for use
full careers in after life"
In the new prison at Joliet, now
being constructed, it 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
the prison walls proper. The prison
farm in the cooperative system is to
offer the final opportunity for self
expression on the part of men.
I'm h second class" Mr.. Whit
man says, Largest opportunity for
study of prisoners will come. Then
will present itself the greatest oppor-
tunity for real educational work. We
knew by that time and knew what to
Wv w iSAp ASH SCI pei IIldlCLlly
fixed in class two where real pro-
gress begins. 1t is at this time they
also begin to earn consideration for
parole and realize fully that whatever
consideration they get is due to merit
only. They begin also to understand
something about the length of time
it will take them to undergo the
treatment necessary to fit them
selves for parole and decent citizen
ship.
THUS gradually the prison re-
straint is removed and the prisoners
are placed more and more upon their
own responsibility. They have, up
until this time, been under the re-
straint of prison walls and more or
less reliant upon prison rules. How
ever, they have graduated out of
cells into small dormitories and have
thus far shown their ability to adapt
themselves to the progressive merit
system.
NOW the authorities can we'll af-
ford to test them as to their ability
to overn themselves and their re-
liability when placed upon their own
responsibility, living as villagers with
walls removed, the test being that
they, in small groups in cottages, can
demonstrate their ability to adapt
themselves to community life."
AVIATOR KILLED.
st. Louis. Mo-, June 21.-Leuten-
ant James A. Wheeler IF st Touia