The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-16
Bigger and Better Prisons

The state needs bigger and better prisons.
Authority for this statement is the best Prison
officials who have the custody Of the wilfu and the
wayward assert that the prison population of Indiana
has grown so fast that housing facilities for convcts
are inadequate.
Only small percentage of the population at the
penitentiary sleep in cells. They are bunked about
in factory shops inside the prison walls.
The model penal farm, denounced when built
five or six years ago bit of extravaganza because
of its size, is in the same or worse condition.
The people, of course will furnish the half million
of dollars or considerable portion of it, not because
they want to- but because it is necessary controu-
ton to the safety of society,"
Ten years ago, there were those among us who
prophesied with all the certainty of inspiration that
today there would be no jals prisons, no poverty
no crime.
There were those among us who believed that with
national prohibition not the local option system
which permitted men to occasionally journey to a
benghted county which had failed to drive out the
saloon and come back to local jails for making
nuisances of themselves there would be an end TO
the costly burden caused by crime
That dream, it seems, is somewhat delayed in its
realization even thought there Is apparently great
majority in Indiana still believe that at some
distant date crime will vanish through the bene-
licences of prohibition.
But whether or not that is the final the big
fact remains that crime is increasing and increasing
in such force as to demand something more than
jail as a remedy.
Something is wrong. The old restraints are gone
longer does fear of punishment deter the tempted
nor the specter of social osracsm haunt the thoughts
of the weak.
While spending the half million for bigger and
better prisons economy might suggest that the people
spend few thousands in serious study of the
conditions responsible for the growth of crime.
There is a cure, somewhere. That the methods
of prohibition enforcement has something to do with
it is probably true. Bootlegging, to be profitable
must have very large clientele, who purchase from
the criminals and who lose something of their own
respect for laws which they help to violate.
The corruption of officials, caused by the huge
nrohts from this business, may be factor. 1t is
too much to expect that all officials will remain
honest when brides for negligence or favors in a
week are larger than salaries for a year.
Back in the distance may be found some clew to
the crime industry in the part played by lawyers who
find such practice profitable. The lawyer who is
ever on the job with bond, with whisper to
friendly officials, with pull in politics, may be
contributing factor.
The technicalities created by precedents in other
wears have been turned from their original purpose
Of preventing injustice into one of protecting the
guilty.
At any rate unless the people content to spend
and keep on spending vast sums to house those VINO
are caught and convicted, small percentage OF all
the guilty it might be well to make survey with
the idea of preventing crime rather than rest con-
tent with trying vainly to punish it.