The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-05-20
LITTLE CRIME
IN THISSTATE
FIGURES SHOW
Warden Lee Gives Address on
Prison Work ut kiwanis
Club Meeting

Statistics show that in proportion
10 population North Dakota has
fewer prisoners than any other state
in the union, according To John j,
Lee, warden of the state peniten-
tiary, addressing the Kiwanis club
Tuesday
in 1853, some transferred from South
Dakota, the number Of inmates in
creased to the highest point in 1916
when 29G were imprisoned. This
number has since shown some reduc-
ton.
I've have men serving time here
for every crime described in the
CODE said the warden. MANY of
them are really good men and have
just made a misstep and got caught.
They go about their work without a
guard and apparently become as in
terested in their work as if working
for themselves.
For hundreds Of years people
have discussed the problem Of Grad
icating crime, but instead Of reduc-
ing, it has increased at the following
ratio:
I'm 1880 the United States had 20
criminals for every 100000 popula
ton.
In 1922 the United States had 800
criminals for every 100000 popula-
ton.
This problem is not only puzzlng
the people Of the United States, but
it is puzzling every civilized nation
on the face of the earth. Sugges-
tions and remedies have been offer
ed by men who claim to be experts,
and they have all failed. In the 18th
century England tried to solve the
problem by shipping her criminals
to America. Later they hired the
cOnvicts to contractors who shipped
them to America, where they we're
treated very much as slaves. This
was discontinued after the practice
had become graft anon. officers
and contractors. In 1878 England
built her first penitentiary in hopes
that they could care for their Grim
irals at home. Very severe punish
ment was used in this peniten:iary
for the purpose of reducing crime,
but resulted in no benefit. Grimes
were continually committed, regard
less Of how severe the punishment.
This system was in operation for
about ten years, when they figured
that the up-keep of the penitentary
was too costly, and new idea was
conceived to snip their criminals to
Australia-anything to get them
awav from their own country. Whole
families were shipped. If the man
convicted had a family he was per-
mitted to take them along if he sc
desired, but even with this system
there was no reduction in crime
After many years OF this experience
it actually resulted in many people
committing crimes in order to b.
shipped to Australia as word came
back that the convicts got rich in
Australia. This policy was discon.
tinusd in 1857.
England had not yet solved hel
problem, so they started to improve
their penitentiary and made a SECOND
attempt to care for their own crimi-
nails. This system has been continued
ever since.
Indifferent plans and ideas have
been conceived by the people of the
United States in hopes that we could
reduce crime, but no plan has ever
been adopted to ship our criminals
to some foreign land. Different kinds
Of punishment have been used, shor,
terms and long terms have been ad.
vOcated, but crime is continually in.
creasing.
From my experience as a sheriff
and as warden Of the penitentiary.
said Mr.. Lee, IL have come to the
conclusion that in order to obtain
better results in reducing crime We
must begin before the child is born
Born from parents of good, kind dis.
position, with a healthy body anc
mind, is half of the battle. High
school education, coupled with the
right moral and religious training
and loving home so attractive tc
the youth that his aim at all times
will be to respect and obey his par.
ents, are largely the determining
factors. Let him be inculcated with
a spirit of hope and understand tina,
character and service to our fellow
men is the only wealth. The youth
with this training continued until
he is over twenty years old will al.
most become immune from crimina
tendencies"
The musical feature Of the day'.
program was a violin selection anc
encore by. Miss Ruth Clausen, accom-
panied at the piano by her sister
Rhoda. The elder is but IL year.
old and their renditions are being