Milford chronicle., 1922-01-13
A DELAWARE PRISON MASTER
PLEADS FOR PRACTICAL
PENAL REFORM

Humane penolyogy provolSes criticism
chiefly because of zealots in the cause OF
prison reform. Efforts, successful to no
table degree, on the part of practical
men. familiar, by experience. with Grim
inals and their ways, to work out a sys-
tenn of prison control which shall recog=
nize the manhood of the offender and at
the same time shall maintain severity
of punishment consistent with his status
as a man are oftentimes overlooked. 1t
is by no means paradOXical that the
State of Delaware, which continues tc re-
sort to the whipping post AMI the lash
as a punishment for heinous Onenses,
should also afford. an example of an hon
or system in one of its prisons, and of
other reform methods which without in
fringing the law with undue leniency
make an appeal to what ever spark of
manhood there may be left in the un-
fortunates which come under its control.
The prevalence of crime in society to-
day. and particularly Or desperate, reck-
less crime, does not warrant any soften
ing of the law, or any relaxation of its
terrors. There is, to the contrary, a de-
mand that the law shall be more swift
and certain, as well as more severe in
it's penalties, so that the man who disre-
CARDS the law, and the rights of others
shall be held to his full accounting. But
that in it's complete measure doesn't
conflict with the reform of prisons and
prison methods, to the end that when
sentences are completed, the unfortu-
mates may be sent back to the world
with something more than a zero chance
of making a living and getting legiti-
mate place in the sun.
The following interesting letter from
Warden Mordecai S. Plummer, of the
New Castle County WorlShouse at Will
mington, bears the earmarlSs of theory
of prison reform which is long headed
and practical, rather than soft-headed
and dangerously ideal:
Dear Sir: have read, and also the
inmates of this institution, with great
interest your article of December 18th
inst.-"Epidemic of Jail Riots" I was
Post Office Inspector for twenty-five years
and during that time came in contact
with all sorts and conditions of men. I
have been Warden of this institution
about nineteen months, and Immediately
upon taking charge here I instituted the
Honor System" or what may be term
ed self government among the prison
ers-in which we have gone the limit.
1t is my opinion that Jail deliveries and
will occur in any prison where |
unnecessary repressive- measures are in !
operation. can see no sense in placing |
an embargo on news and instituting a |
rigid regime of silence within penitenti
airy walls. The prisoners Of this institu-
ton are permitted to subscribe to daily !
papers and popular magazines, such as
your valuable paper. to which we have
number of subscribers.
When anything of an unusual nature
occurs in-the different penitentiaries of
the United States, we have a meeting
Of the prisoners and discuss with them
what in their opinion is the reason there
fore. We do not try to hold pack from
.hem the fact that riots and mutiny and
jail deliveries are occurring in other pen
al institutions, but on the contrary we
give full publicity to such news to the
prisoners and discuss with them what
created such conditions, and if we are
things to happen here that
would lead up to such occurrences.