Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-25
EVERY INMATE
Of WORkHOUSE
I. 7" IS ON PAROLE.
Warden of Delaware Insti-
tuition Institutes the "Hon-
or System" Among PriS-
onerS With Good Results.

Wilmington, Del, April PA
prison where every man is on his
personal parole day and night:
where guards are few and rules
are rarely broken: where life-term-
ers work unguarded outside the
prison walls, and where punish
ment, when needed, is decided on
and administered by the prisoners
this is the New Castle county
workhouse, in the outskirts of this
city, where a remarkable expert
ment in penology is being carried
out by a warden who believes men
the world over are being driven
TO crime by existing prison meth
DDS.
The New Castle county work.
house this month rounds out its
first year under the direction of
Mordecai S. Plummer, the war
den who instituted the "honor
system" in May, 1920. There are
today 337 prisoners, slightly more
than half of them colored.
Crime Mental Affliction.
Mr., Plummer believes that
crime is mental affliction and
that men can be ''cured" by prop
er treatment. He believes that IS
per cent of the men in prisons
are morally sound and that only
per cent are 'incurable." 1t is
his theory that kindly and human
interest shown in a prisoner in
spires him with the conviction that
society is his friend, not his en-
envy, and that he will respond by
becoming useful member of So
ciety. In a recent address to the
state legislature in behalf of q
parole law similar to the one en-
acted in Wisconsin, he declared;
Most jails are schools of vice,
hot-beds of disease, leprous, foul
and immoral, where abnormal con-
ditions pervert and unbalance the
mind, where men become mere
elemental beasts and where initia-
tive and energy is slapped"
In the carrying out of Warden
Plummer theory, the internal al
fairs of the workhouse are admins
tered by the prisoners themselves,
through an "honor committee OF
eight men, whose chairman is Il
man serving eighteen years for
manslaughter and which Includes
on its membership three life
termers." There are various Sub
committees on cleanliness, morals,
recreation and other matters.
Committee Tries Offenders,
A prisoner who breaks rule Is
tried by the committee.
which sits every night, and pudish-
ment meted out. This takes the
form of partial withdrawal of privi-
legcs and, in extreme cAse3, ostra-
c.sm Ly the other prisoners, which
it is o. clared is the punishment
felt mcst Eeeniy. The culprit Is
by counsel at these
hearings and may appeal to the
warden, bur rarely does.
There are now only six guards in
the institution. These are in the
main stationed at the doors and
carry the keys. The prisoners have
their meals and recreation without
4 guard present, do their work un-
guarded, and leave in patches for
work on the surrounding farms
with one of their own number in
charge In the tailorshop 1870 men
work all day long under the sole
of men selected by
themselves.
Prison Is Clean.
The prison is scrupulously |
clean.
The men have a band of 25 |
pieces, a glee club, two baseball |
cams and dramatic societies. |
hey are allowed visitors at any |
line when it will not interfere !
With their work, and may be |
;een in the corridors near the
entrance conversing freely with |
'elatives. Gifts are not restrict |
ID, "They can bring them dy-
lamite if they want" said the
warden. ut wouldn't be used"
In the main corridor is store
where candy, tobacco, soap, toll
It articles (including razors), bis
uits and novelties are sold at
.ost.
The prisoners work eight hours
day and have from $40 until
D. m. for recreation, In addi-
ion to having free access to the
ard or recreation rooms during
he day when tasks are finished
head of time or are temporarily
acking.
Prisoners Play Baseball.
Only six prisoners have attempt
d to escape under the honor
ystem." Three of these were re-
aptured and punished by their
elbows.
On the Saturday half holiday,
aseball games are played, with
inside teams sometimes present,
nd many spectators. On Sundays,
hurch services of every denom-
nation are held. In fact, the
honor system" is based on the
ible, Warden Piummer says, and
Is to religious influence he looks
Or his results.
The prisoners work is not fin.
she'd on discharge. The warden's
rst task is to find the prisoner
with firm which will
verlook his prison record and
clip him along. A local shipyardI
as employed scores of discharged
len. The former inmate comes
} the warden frequently for add
ice and assistance, sometimes