The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-02-04
REFORM IN
PRISON SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENTS AND ALTER
ATOMS, HELD UP BY THE
WAR, ARE NOW TO BE
BROUGHT INTO
ACTION
SHORT SENTENCES OPPOSED.
Program Of Two Humane Societies
Devoted To The Reform Of
Prison Life in Britain


alterations and Improvements in
prison systems, which have been
proposed by those intimately ac-
quainted with the subject, have been
held up by the war, but a great ef-
fort must now be made to bring
them into active working. Nothing
is more evident than the remarkable
change in the attitude of the public
toward crime and criminals; there
is systematic demand for invest
igation as TO what constitutes crime,
together with a deep sense of re-
sponsibility toward those who, for
the protection of society at large.
need to be segregated and controlled.
1t IS no exaggeration to say that
! amongst thinking people the desire
merely to punish has been supplant-
ed by the more intelligent wish to
improve such individuals as come
under the ban OF the law. Degrade
ton, mechanical and useless work,
and depressing surroundings tend to
lower self-respect, however elemen-
tary, so that it has become evident
that systems retaining such condi-
tons are useless and consequently
wasteful.
One of the primary necessities is
more thorough classification of all
persons sent to prison for long or
short periods, but IT is even more
important TO try and prevent the
great majority from ever reaching
prison at all. Probably much OF the
present system of punishment for
slight offenses came a:out because
il Wa an easy method, but public
opinion has passed the stage when
mere convenience would be used as
an argument, and the fact that three
out of five of the persons who go to
Jail have already passed throug n Its
gates before shows that as deter
rent imprisonment is a failure.
The short sentence has but few
friends or admirers. 1t achieves
little If any reform, and it is obvious
that there is no reason why 1t should
do so. 1t. must be remembered that
the great proportion of offenders are
the direct result of social neglect,
of overcrowding and congestion, OF
ignorance and general low standard.
Cases coming froIA such Environment
require 10 be retained for sufficient
time to permit Of higher social IN
stincts being developed, Tor 10
plunge them back again into the
same surroundings, until desire for
something better has been evoked,
!. merely to waste both time and
public money and, most important
of all, potential manhood.
Every prison visitor knows from
experience that many of those who
find their way TO prison are opVi-
ously unfit to be judged by norman
standards. Under chosen conditions
Improvement may be made, and,
here again, an increase of homes Tor
those who require special care will
be required, such cases tending less
and less to reach prison at all. Well
defined cases do not do so now, bur
there are also the border-line people,
who must be provided for. Ii IS
interesting TO note the program OF
the two societies devoted to the re-
form of prison life in Great Britain.
In all essential work their aims are
identical. The policy of the How
ard Association is to improve prison
life in every way, or, 10 quote from
its published pamphlet:
ITO arouse and develop the man
= hood or womanhood of a prisoner,
all healthy and refining influences
should be brought TO bear. Personal
cleanliness and habits of self-respect
should be encouraged In every way,
clothes should not be hideous ana
illhtting, the surroundings (whils
plain and simple) should be bright
and elevating. and work that is real.
1y useful and educative should be
provided. Above all, human inter.
course with the right sort of persons
should be encouraged in every pos
sible way, and endeavors should be
made TO interest the prisoners in
things that elevate and refne-by
lectures, discussions, music, singing,
and the like"
Prison" says the Howard Asso-
citation, should always be the last
resort" and it therefore recommends
the development of methods other
NAoA fiASOAB ANNUALLY AOt kuE
young; the extension of the proba-
ton system with properly trained
and paid officers and enforcement OF
that clause of the Act of 1914, THAI
time should be given for the pay
ment of fines. In cases of fraud and
theft the magistrate should try and
enforce compensation by installment,
as is done in cases of civil debt, and
: this would serve to supply the ele-
ment OF Difference, often felt TO be
lacking in the system of probation.
The Penal Reform League il
equally insistent upon the great ne
cessity for improving the personnel
OF prisons, and urges the appoint
ment or women as trained nurses
stewards, ETC., and TO the higher
posts in women's prisons.
AT present neither the conditions
of work or the pay of prison officials
are good. The abolition of punish.
ment of warders has long been ad.
vanced by the Penal Reform League
and is now under consideration BY
the Home Office. 1t is obvious thai
an officer who requires punishment,
is unfit for his post. The league
also advocates the abolition of ad'