The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-04
Outdoor Prison for First Offenders.

seen should arise. II is understood
that the site of Camp Grant. at
Rockford, Ill, has been chosen for
this governmental experiment in
redeeming youthful Offenders
against federal statutes. and first
offenders, regardless of age.
Old Ideas Discarded.
Years ago it was found that SOL
itary confinement was a barbarous
thing. often leading to mental de-
terioration, even to insanity. In
prisons nowadays attention is given
to exercise and work with which
to occupy the minds of the prison
ers. Baseball and open air sports
have their places in the schedules
of activities of most, if not all, in
situations of this kind
In the proposed experiment at
Camp Grant, the first offenders and
young criminals will be taken a
step farther, and a scientific effort
made to eradicate criminal tenden>
cies and make useful members OF
society of these men who have
strayed from the straight and mar
row path, or lost their footing at
some slippery place.
The main point in the system
will be to train these men to trades,
il they have none, and perfect in
their callingS those who already
have a start 1t is planned to pro-
vide for instruction and practice in
a wide number of vacations. Farm
ing, it is expected, will come in for
large share of attention. The rec
ognized trades, however, are eX-
pected to engage the attention Of
the greatest number of prisoners.
Recently the land comprising
Camp Grant, at Rockford, Ill, was
condemned. The government can
secure possession of the tract for
the purposes of the department OF
Justice under the right of eminent
domain.
One of the big steps forward in
treatment of convicted offenders in
the last few decades has been TO
get away from the old idea of for
bidding prison walls, as well as the
old idea of punishment by solitary
confinement. At Camp Grant it is
not planned to have anything like
the ordinary prison. This will not
be entirely an innovation. For eI-
ample, the WorkhOuse where minor
offenders convicted in Washington
police courts are sent is nothing
more than a great farm. The prts-
oners are given tasks in running
the big institution which keep them
busy and keep them out of doors.
Only those who try to escape or
continually stir up trouble among
other prisoners are kept to them
selves. The farm is situated in
Virginia, several miles south OF
Washington on the banks of the
Potomac.
Trades to Be Taught
The metal trades, horseshOeing,
carpentry, bricklaying, farming,
cabinet making, and every occupa-
ton for which instruction is desiT-
ed will be provided at this propos-
ed outdoor prison at Camp Grant
In addition, the men who desire 1t
will receive general education 10
fit them to be useful members OF
society instead of parasites. Every
effort will be made to show these
men practically that crime, as a
means of livelihood, does not pay,
in dollars and cents, anything like
the dividends that honest work Will
produce.
Congress will have to approve
the plan, particularly as an outlay
Of money will be necessary. 1t will
be shown to congress, though, that
the appropriation necessary will
not be as great as the funds which
will be required if the government
has to build additional federal
prisons. The administration does
not look for any strong opposition
from members of congress, as the
money must be appropriated, or
the convicted breakers of the law
enacted by congress will have to
be pardoned in wholesale lots be
cause there is no place for them
to go.