Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-05-14
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
ON TOPICS OF THE DAY
How to Convert Prisoners From So.
cial Liabilities Into Assets
to the StntC

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-Wc hope for n better under.
standing In the treatment OF prisons
ana prisoners. but before a great deal
can be done. however. we must have
the public conscience aroused to the
TACT that our prisons do not exist
merely FOR punishment. They really
should furnish means and methods for
reIorining the men sent to them. TO
that he Is deprived OF his liberty Ia in
ltseit a punishment to him. But TO
return him to society without teach
ing him useful labor, without instili-
ing within him desire to go straight.
ana without improving his attitude
towards society is, after all. u system
Dy which society Furnishes itself.
Nothins has been accomplished be-
Sohu paying the man bnck" for his
otense against society. and the dis /.
charged prisoner starts in to pay
back the State" 1t is an endless and
Vicious circle. The man returns TO
mains as liability To the State and
never becomes an asset
Ihcre are three sides to every man
-phSsicai. mental and spiritual In
prcssions. n man may be horn weak
or crippled. Society has done won
ders for the physical side OF man The
marvellous skill OF a surgeon. and the
S'iuuiS vi the scientist
bear ample testimony. We have made
splendid start in study OF mental
disease. There ia yet much to learn.
put the progress In the last twenty
nrc years has hccn rcmRrknblc In
the matter of spiritual or character
rchnbfl!tation wo have little to offer n
man beyond the profound truth 'thn,
man must be born again" In other
words. that he must be reGcneratcd
and that TO II very large measure this
regeneration must come from within
the man himself.
Those who believe in better prisons
proved prison buildings. more SAM
,ary methods OF living, somewhat
better quality OF food. discarding OF
stripes. elimination Of continued soli-
tary confinement. otc.. In order that
the state may not be positively
ashamed OF itself for brutal treat
mcnt OF It's unfortunntcs. In other
words. society does not like to think
NTH. vermin. prison drGeneracy. dun
Econs. disease, etc. are unpleasant,
things.
Now most prisons have practically
eliminated these very obvious un-
pleasant features which offend the
eyes of society. with the result that
We are beginning 10 have excellent
prison buildings ana equipments: in
short we are getting good prisons
and by means Of sanitation. baths
dininE-room ami other material
things. We are commencing to make
good prisoners.
Flu; the larger problem to solve Is
now to make good men out Of good
prisoners In good prisons?
II il 10 answer, at least partially.
this question that the Prison Survey
recommended IL more adequate cducn-
tional program, a system OF VOCATION
al training. payment OF a wage for
work we'll done. ana II partial rcaliZa-
ton of tho principles OF sclf-cxprcs-
sion. Society is coming To the point
where II will no longer stand for any
thing hut good prisons. II is no
longer difficult to retain within their
But the test of tho prison and the
prisoner come after the man Is dis
charged. II the State sends him out
broken In spirit and ruined in health
and vocationally handicapped because
OF his long absence from modern
methods OF working. then the State
has robbed him Of more than was
written In the warrant. Tho state
sentenced him for n term Of years
and not for n life term OF ir- pdircd
lungs. heart. spirit. brain ~ hanrs.
III the State sends him out in good
health. in good apirlts. win trained
hands and an understanding mind, the
state has made a liability into an as
set. IL is a paying investment The
State Is making wcll-bchavcd ciphcrs
prisoners OF negative virtues. Let us
put digits OF labor. education. wage
incentives in place of ciphers through
the exercise Of positive virtues.
ADOLPH LEWISOHN.
New York May 49, 1921