Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-06
Urgently Needed Reforms
4 In Georgia's Penal Syst EN-

"HE chief recommendations made in the
annual report o. the State Prison
Commission are of character tna'
should appeal keenly to the Legislature
sense of humanity and justice alike, and lead
to the prompt enactment of the measures
asked Particularly important is the Com
missions plea for an indeterminate-sen-
tence law under which punishment can be
administered more equitably than now and
also with more regard to the merits of the
individual case In Georgia convict camp
there are two men, one of whom is serving
a sentence of five years and the other SEN
tence of three years tor precisely the same
kind of offense. The five-year prisoner fell
into his transgression under circumstances
that were markedly eXtenuating, and since
he entered the camp his conduct has been
most exemplary. The three-year prisoner
had no eXcusing factors in his case, and his
subsequent record is an especially bad one.
This gross inequality, wherein tie better
man goes fettered for two years after the
other is free, arises from the fact that diff
ferent courts have different conceptions of
what constitutes condign punishment; in
deed the same courts conception may vary
from time to time, according to the bland
ness or rigor of its psychologist atmosphere.
Now reverting to our example, suppose that
luckless prisoner No. 1, instead of being
given fixed sentence of five years, had been
given sentence which (save in having a
good conduct then would have counted so
largely and so definitely in his favor along
with the palliating circumstances of his Of
tense, that he could have been paroled as
soon as the authorities felt that the ends
of justice had been substantially served Our
common sense of what is reasonable and
right and humane tells us that this ought
actually to be the case. The Prison Com
mission pleads to the same purpose out of
an abundance of frst-hand observation which
convlnces it's members that in conscience
and wisdom, Georgia can no longer conduct
its penal affairs without the discretion which
the 1ndeterminate sentence would allow
Equally commendable is the recommended
ton that Facilities be provided for the treat
ment of persons addicted to drugs These
untortunates, most of whom are anything
out criminal are now sent to the State
prison farm on the technical charge of
Vagrancy. This is so obviously unjust and
the social need of combating the drug habit
Dy enectual treatment is so plainly impor-
tant That we can scarcely imagine the Leg
lslature's refusing this appeal. Nor can it
rightly refuse the Commissions plea for
AoIe auequate facilities to train the youths
committed to the State Reformatory Tru1v.
as the Commissioners urge, cit is NOT fair
Tor the State to take these young bows and
Keep them during their habit-forming neriod
WItnout at least starting them in some yeca-
Con IN which they can become self-sustain-
=! - Gnu useful cltlzens.' Unless this is done
III noeral measure, the Reformatorv cannot
render the saving and constructive service
Tor which it was established
AS WeIl-cons1dered and urgent reforms
oil tnese recommendations should enlist III -
pupHcs earnest support, for we dare MT
IesI content as people and we shall NOT
truly prosper as State sc long as these NV
brethren, on whom prison gates havo sb',t
suHer Injustice and are unvisitad by -.
redressing hearts ~ our