The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-18
SCIENCE AND THE CRIMINAL

SCIENCE AND THE CRIMINAL
 There is dire need of some sort of clear inghouse for the application of scientific knowledge to practical conditions of gov ernment and of society. Taking the adminis- tration of our local and state penal institu- tions, for example, it is fact that human knowledge of underlying facts, psychical, physiological, physical and medical, counsels a far different treatment of the questions of crime and punishment than is now given: disease. Sometimes it is curable and some times it is incurable. but in either case it is subject for specialists and not for those casually or for political reasons given charge of penal institutions. When individuals are suspected of crime, their cases are given special trial and special consideration until finally sentence is passed After that the cases lose their identity and are treated without any discrimination as to special and perhaps controllable factors that have been if neglected. may later be the cause for repetition of the act. To be sure, even our unwieldy system of penalties and punish ments has a deterrent effect. for the fear complex is very active in most people. In many cases it is strong enough not only to deter others from similar offense. but to prevent the prisoner from repeating his crime on his release from prison. But to de- pend on that alone is to neglect the more important aspect of crime prevention.
 There has, been an increasing tendency of late years to give the prisoner more humane treatment and to regard him officially as human being, even if very unfortunate one. Therefore, his food, physical health and surroundings have been more attentively regarded than formerly. But there is still lacking the application of known scientific principles to prison administration and the treatment of each prisoner as a ease" from the sociological, medical and psychological standpoint. Perhaps the old theory of hu- man depravity has had it's influence in re- tarding the intelligent handling of the crime problem. But truth makes it's way finally, no matter how long it may be delayed on the road In some states truth has found the path smoother than in others. In some states the prisoner, before being committed to prison, is examined as to his mentality, his physical condition, his previous environ ment and his heredity. Being thus classified it becomes easier to prescribe what sort of treatment and occupation is best for him and most likely to lead to his physical, men, tai and moral rehabilitation if such be pos sible. It is strongly urged by medical men that such a policy be adopted for Alabama.
 Among the states that have been showing intelligent attention to%this subject is North Carolina. Under the workings of a new bill, which has been drawn to present to the legislature in 1925, the administration of all prisons in the state, local or state, will be guided by principles believed to mark an advance over past methods. Flogging and confinement to dssk cells or dungeons will be prohibited, ,yan the theory that they de- stroy that attitude on the part of the pris- oner which is indispensable~to his reclama- tion. Often such punishment. is as sane as
 
 An appeal to the better nature of the pris- oner is to be made by means of the honor sys-7 tenn. But the most striking feature of the program is the provision for physical and mental examination of the prisoner on en- trance, and at various later intervals, in order that the nature of his deficiency may be known and the proper schedule of treat ment instituted. Education of the convict illiterate is to be compulsory, as is training along some line of skilled endeavor suited to each prisoners capacity, previous occu- patton or inclination.
 In other words, just as we have physical hospitals, so shall North Carolina turn its prisons into moral hospitals, or hospitals for the treatment and reclamation of the pa-- tients that are sent to them through the courts. The new program is not based on sentiment or hysteria, but on the soundest of scientific principles. Perhaps eventually sentences shall be indeterminate, just as consignment to insane asylums is indeter- minate. Whenever the patient, in the judg- ment of the technical experts, has recovered, he shall be free to- leave. In the event that he does not recover, then both he and society will be better off if he remains under the care of those who understand his case.