Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-04-18
PUNISHMENT IN THE VIRGINIA
PENITENTIARY.

Inc following article on punish
ment', past or present, at the Virginia
penitentiary was prepared by DR..
Charles V. Darlington, who for twelve
years was prison surgeon to the in
stitution. The article appeared in fc-
cent issue Of the Richmond News
Leader:
l have been asked to describe the
punIshments which from time 10 time
nave been in vogue in the Virginia
penitcntiary.
With a working experience of
twelve years as prison surgeon, |
know something of the subject.
The greatest punishment that could
come to any human being is a peni-
tertiary sentence. Such a sentence
though, is often not sufficiently de-
torrent on the criminal nature so nd
ltional punishment in varied forms
have been added by prison authori-
ties. sometimes acting within the law
but very often upon their own inia-
tive, as cruel whim or fancy NAV
move them.
NO human being is more to be en-
ecrated or is no more despicably low
than an unjust cruel keeper or attend
ant in state prison.
"rhc law which permits cruel, brutal
and unusual punishments in any in
stitution, regulated by law, is wrong,
and should be changed by the law
making power.
Criminal Nature Exceptional"
81 used the expression criminal ma
ture.' Many and by far the majority
oil human beings sentenced to the
penltcntiary have not criminal na-
ture. They are Just like you and /
Some bitter error has overtaken them
and If the great punishment and hor-
ror of penitentiary sentence could
be coupled with kindly constructive
treatment, rather than with brutal
punishment, such natures would re-
turn to the world and to citizenship,
chastened and the better for their
experience.
Many an accomplished criminal
has ben fashioned out of poor fool
country hoy by the brutal and unus-
ual punishments inflicted on him and
on his fellows by common prison
guards.
at is fair presumption that the
superintendent of prison institutions
are men of character, education and
heart. Therefore the basic principle
OF any prison regulations should in
sure absolutely that the supcrintcnd-
ent be the only one who can order
punishments; that he should be for
hidden in positive terms to delegate
this authority to any subordinate Off
cial and that he should be present
IN fact when any and all punishments
are inflicted. The positive enforcement
Of this simple rule would do much to
make impossible many of the little
acts Of brutality which sometimes
creep in during the administration of
normal punishments.
81 can illustrate the last remark in
this manner When men have been
ordered whipped it has been known
that brutal bully of guard would
drag the leather lash under his feet
on gritty, sandy floor, so that the
next blow from this same lash would
bite more deeply, since sand and grit
had mixed with the blood on the whip
Such 4 practice as this could hardiy
take place if the superintendent were
required to be present and superintend
the job.
y Catalogue of Punishments.
" The following punishments have
been in vogue from time to time in
the Virginia pcnitcntiary:
81. Withdrawing the privilege of
writing TO or OF seeing ones friends.
These privileges arc greatly priced
-. Cutting oil ones good time. This
can be appreciated when it is pointed
out that it loses convict about two
months in the year.
3. Cutting of the privilege of 60
ing with the fellows to the side yard
to either play ball or else root from
the side lines. Hard punishment en-
a summer evening, especially should
IICT n0PMc MP