Evening star., 1934-03-25

recent years many such factors In the
administration of our criminal law and
the conduct of our prisons have been
pointed out Briefly stated, these more
remote causes of prison demonstrations
may be said to be:
Overcrowding, with its attendant evils
-cramped quarters, reduced privileges,
less yard time, utter lack OF privacy,
hastily prepared food, inability to give
individual attention to prisoners.
Idleness Except in few of our State
institutions, only small percentage of
inmates are kept productivity and con-
tinuously busy Petty tasks are under
taken Three men are put on a one
man job. Most of our prison labor is
purposeless-and an idle or poorly occu-
pied mind literally becomes the devils
workshop.
The character of our prisoners is
changing. Since the war life in both
urban and rural communities has been
freer, faster and less under restraint
than ever in the history of mankind.
The almost unlimited distribution OF
firearms, the possession Of rapidly pro-
PEELED motor vehicles, high living-these
have started many along the road that
leads only to disaster. Many adven-
turous youths turn to criminal activities
for the thrill which so many of our
restless generation crave. Not only does
the presence of increasing numbers of
this class complicate prison discipline,
but the confinement itself is much more
of a punishment to prisoners of the
twentieth century than those of former
eras Even if their cages were entirely
gilded, many of these birds would not
be content!
The very tempo of modern life out
side still further emphasizes the mo-
notony and regimentation of prison life.
The necessary denial of normal outlets
breeds a discomfort and a restleSsness
which few of those outside can under
stand.
Again I have no doubt that there
rankles in the breast of many a convict
a feeling of personal injustice. I do not
say that it is a just feeling; I merely
say that many of them have it. One
keen foreign observer recently COM
mented upon the tremendously long
sentences which our courts mete out
to certain types of offenders. 1t has
been said that we attempt to strike
balance by lengthening the sentences
of those we catch to operate as deter
rent effect upon those whom we do not.
In the last decade not only have our
legislatures increased the quantum of
punishment of certain crimes, but courts
and parole boards have been led to i'm
pose longer sentences. In recent series
of articles by President Roosevelt, en-
titled Crime and Criminals" appears
the following:
I'm Auburn prison there are two
youths, ages 81 and Is, who are serving
sentences of At years and 6 months
to life for robbery. One of these will be
68 and the other 72 years of age when
released. One man SO years of age is
serving a sentence of from Is to 80
years for robbery. He will be "a years
of age when released"
a FEELING of injustice sometimes is
u engendered because punishment is
inflicted in this country for acts which
do not constitute crimes in other coun-
tries. Drunkenness, drug addiction, sex
crimes and other violations are in this
category.
The average prisoner is keen to detect
any discrimination against himself. He
neglects no opportunity to point out
that the rich and powerful escape pun