Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15

They are guards who can shoot straight
but who also have human insight.
Somewhat before the time when Mil
| Ter will have served one-quarter of his
sentence a calendar will list him as
candidate for promotion. The prison
director and his staff, consisting OF
physician, work superintendent, head
housekeeper, chief guard and treasurer,
will discuss the eligibility of the pris-
oner to advance to grade two prison.
Having found him to be a promising
prisoner, he Is awarded a white stripe
and publicly honored. Had he failed
to pass, his failure would have been
unknown to his fellows.
No Uniforms In Grade Two.
Should he have chosen to remain in
this prison because Of the proximity of
his family, Miller would have been
granted his desire without loss Of the
fruits of his promotion, although per-
haps with some sacrifice of physical
facilities.
In the grade two prison Miller may
discard his uniform of course blue for
civilian clothes. His cell has the APP
pearance OF coy den, for in 1t he has
real bed with bedsteads, table
bench, cabinet. reading lamp and night
table: He may decorate his room to
suit himself with pictures, plants and
birds. His freedom is increased. He
may pay social visits to other inmates,
play musical instrument, listen to
the radio in the clubroom. or go to
another to talk, read or write. Once a
week a member of the prison board will
eat at his table. but for sympathetic
observation, not inspection. Guards
Will cease to follow him during his
walks on the campus or to watch over
MIN at his lathe. He is given reason
to believe that he Is trusted.
He may become interested perhaps in
the self-government activities of the
prison, by which inmates elect repre-
sentatlVes from the ranks who have the
right to confer on matters of welfare
with the director or even with the SEN
fencing board. He sees fewer guards,
hearS fewer regulations made, and
moves about more freely without watch-
!ul eyes upon him. He finds it increas-
lngiy difficult to harbor a real or i'm
aglnary resentment against authority.
AIter a residence Of at least six
months. Miller is eligible for a weeks
vacation to visit his family or for
otner purposes that will serve his edu-
catlon. He may take his vacation
whole or piecemeal, and it can be
granted only by unanimous vote of the
prison board. Should the members dis
agree, they will seek mediations of the
sentencing board. He may take all of
MS savings on the holiday with the ex-
ception of a saving fund of at least
$l2. and leave the prison. temporarily
free man, but knowing that if he
ABUSES the privilege he will lose his
rank
Miller has now served at least one
nan OF MS sentence. and has given
ample proof that he has made his de-
slres subservient to the social order of
the prison and that he has used his
trust well. He Is therefore promoted
10 the highest grade of prison-the
peak OF the educational pyramid. The
grade three prison realizes the whole
aim OF the reform movement. In its
regime and appearance il resembles a
training school more than a prison.
One of the first things which inn
pressed Miller upon his entrance is the
discovery that none of the windows is
barred and that no wall surrounds the
prison. He finds the window of his
room open to the sun and of normal
size tthe average windows in Germany
are about four by eight feet), and hung
with curtains and Grapes. At meals he
eats with s1lverware instead Of tinware.
On sundays he hikes with guard in
CIVILIAN clothes. He sleeps hours
and works and plays Is hours a day.
In his workshop there are no guards.
out there are supervisors, who are
prisoners possessing skill.
His vacation time and his free time
are now doubled. He may remain alone
with visitors whom he may receive each
week. There Is no limit to the number
OF packages he may receive and no
censorship on incoming or outgoing
IQfforc n -
sleeps on his own bedding. In the place
OF guards are prisoner delegates
elected by the men. They exercise
Whatever measure of discipline may be
necessary and serve on the prison board
In proportionate representation.
Since Miller has by this time devel-
oped into skilled machinist. the prison
director may bargain with shops and
factories outside of the prison to en-
ploy him. Having obtained employment
at the market wage, this free prisoner"
leaves the grounds every day with his
lunch basket and some pocket money
to take his place with free workmen
who NAV know him to be a prison in
mate only by reason of the fact that
he does not drink beer or eat in res
taurantS with them. Out of his wages
he pays the prison for his board and
lodging. The remainder he puts tito
a savings fund and fund for petty ex-
penses. Thus he has reached the stage
where the step to freedom and social
responsibility is a slight one. The
grade three regime has cushioned the
often disrupting shock of freedom and
carried him along to the point where
he may rejoin his family with a bank
account to his credit and a job ahead
of him.
Building Modern Prison.
The individualism of the Prussian
penal system will not. Of course. be eff
fected at one stroke. There are about
300 prisons in the state containing
nearly $4,000 inmates. The new in
structions for prison officials have
already been issued. but the ideal refor-
nation will not be reached until modern
prison buildings are erected.
At Bradenburg, near Berlin, a model
prison plant is under construction
which will comprise the three grades of
regime. 1t will have a capacity for 900
prisoners. 1t will be arranged like a
garden colony with lawns, gardens and
walks. Officials will be quartered in
small private houses along the out
skirts. Prisoners buildings grouped in
side among trees and shrubbery. The
prison will stand on a 28-acre tract,
and adjoining it will be its own farm
OF 224 acres, to be worked by the agrt-
culturally inclined inmates. Deep in
the woods there will be separate insti-
tuition for cons,lmptive prisoners. The
kitchen will contain modern steam
cooking apparatus and electric refrig-
Grafton. Prisoners quarters throughout
will be equipped with running water.
The buildings will be wired for the
latest in electrical alarm devices and
light signals.
From Auburn Prison has been Dor
vatnd watch A enac{a1 roilr0ad Son,,s