The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-25
Strap and Dungeon in Reform Schools

The appalling brutalities recently revealed by the
New York Telegram in the discipline of the Connec-
cut school for boys naturally raises the question OF
how widespread. such practices actually are today
What is the nature and frequency of punishment In
reform schools?
Hence we may welcome unusually timely and
Illuminating the survey conducted con1dentally by
a well-known New York social engineer.
He wrote to some 143 institutions for juvenile
deinquents with population of approximately 10000
inmates He sent carefully prepared QUESTIONABLE
requesting information to types of punishment en-
pIoyed He endeavored to encourage frankness and
Corporation by asking that the name of the nsti-
tuition should not be supplied on the sheet returned
He received specific replies to his queries from
thrty-one boys schools and twenty-five girls insti-
buttons What did he find out? Four institutions for
boys and five for girls asserted that they did not en-
ploy any of the punshments lsted-meaning that no
restrictive or corporal punishment employed, If
! they told the truth.
Restrictive puniShments seem in almost universal
use Twelve boys schools and thirteen institutions for
girls employ enforced silence disciplinary meas
ure-the silent period lasting from fifteen minutes to
thirty days Standing the line is utilized in six
teen schools for boys and five schools for girls. The
period varies from fifteen minutes to thirty recrea-
ton periods.
The dark cell is employed in nine institutions for
boys and nine institutions for girls The period of
confinement ranges from twelve hours to three
months. Shackles egirons, straitjacketS and hand
cuffs also are used rather freely.
Corporal punishment still is widely prevalent
Twenty boys schools report its The instruments
used in order of popularity Strap paddle, hose
rattan ruler rope, whip and hand. The strokes va
ried from two with a ruler to $50 with hose. Cor
poral punishment was in use eleven institutions for
girls with the strokes running from five to fifty.
Other sundry punishments such as washing the
mouth with soap, giving castor oil and applying
capscum ointment to sensitive parts in frequent
use. The two latter punishments used mainly to
repress sex ofenses. Douchng with pitchers of cole
water is reported.
The author has compiled an approximate estimate
of the percentage of the boys and girls in these in
stitutions who thus are punished each month. He
estimates that II per cent of the boys and is Eer
cent of the girls are given the silent treatment
Twelve per. cent of the boys and per cent of the
girls have to stand the line. Two per cent of the
boys and per cent of the girls get the dark eel
six per cent of the boys and per cent of the grs
receive corporal punishment.
The chief ofenses punished are inSubordnat.o
running away from the institution, ofenses, lyn
and violence to officers,
The figures are both Illuminating and disconcert
ing. 1t may be assumed that the institutions which
replied-a little more than one-third of the total
were the most enlightened and the least ashamed of
their record Hence. the conditions tabulated above
probably represent on the whole the best which
list today in institutions for youthful denquents
Yet We have in full swing all the classic punish
kmentS which have been used in enforcing discipline
Pm prisons for adults during the last century and
have been condemned unreservedy by prison reform
crs for century The statistical story is, moreover
The most pleasant way OF describing the situation.
Where the strap swings freely other kinds of brutality
anevitaby exist.
4 This report shows plainly enough why the
emile delinquent already warped and handicapped.