Evening star., 1935-01-18

Goes the National Capital fail to
meet the standards? The article
oelotD is the last of q series of
four dealing wtth this question.
Modern prison procedure in what is
now looked upon as a generally ap-
proved ideal State involves multitude
OF specialized services and treatments
OF prisoners. Such a program has been
developed over a long period of years
by those most deeply interested in
prison work, and defended success
fully, for the most part, against those
who charge that too much Of value is
being bestowed upon the lawbreaker.
District of Columbia penal institu-
tions approach this ideal in the facil-
tiles made available at Lorton and
Occoquan, but limitations arising
principally out Of lack Of funds leave
much to be desired. Procedure fol-
lowed by some Of the Federal institu-
tions more nearly approaches the
standard.
Most important probably of all the
specialized services is the first one,
classification of incoming prisoners.
Applied in the manner prescribed by
Federal regulations this service in
wolves q complete analysis Of a prison.
er's past and, as fully as possible, pro-
vision for his future.
Individual Cases Mapped.
Upon entrance, for instance, a man
is placed in admission quarantine for
80 days. During this time, he is in
terviewed by each Of the following
officials Record clerk, deputy warden,
director of social service unit, chief
medical officer, psychiatrist, psycholo-
g1st, supervisor of education, chaplain,
director of recreation and parole Of
flcer. Each of these officials will confer
with the warden and at the end of
the 30-day period a program for the
individual will be drawn up.
To a degree, Lorton officials follow
such a procedure, but limitations at
the institution are too great. Lack Of
social service unit, a psychiatr1st.
psychologist or trained officials in
other lines handicaps the attempt. En-
tering prisoners are placed in quaran-
tine, their records obtained, medical
examination made and their assign
ment to various activities made by the
superintendent or his assistant.
In the program drawn for the
individual inmate of Federal insti-
tuition, suggestions are made for the
following matters: Custody and
discipline, possible transfer to an
other institution, opportunity for So
cial service benefits. medical treat
ment, psychiatric and psychological
treatment, education, employment,
religious opportunities, recreation.
Redistribution takes place at regular
intervals. particularly if the pre-
scribed program seems unsuccessful
in an individual case.
Disciplinary Board.
Referring again to the Federal In
dustrial Reformatory at Chillicothe.
Ohio, an interesting feature Of the
procedure there is the existence OF a
disciplinary board composed Of the
superintendent, assistant superintend-
eII anu Ille pSyCIlldlIloI'
A second feature is the active par
ticipation of the inmates themselves
in the administration of the institu-
ton. a condition achieved through
an Inmates Advisory Council and its
Executive Committee. The council
makes recommendations to the super
intendent in matters pertaining to
the welfare of the inmate body as
whole. but the scope of their activi-
ties does not include questions of
discipline or questions affecting in
dividuals.
Social service units have proved
beneficial to the morale of institu-
tions where they exist, one Of their
principal functions being to maintain
contact with families Of prisoners.
Nothing of this kind exists in con-
nection with the local institutions,
prisoners being forced to depend upon
censored mail for their sole contacts
with dependent families who may be
living beyond visiting distance.
Disorders Prevented.
AS a whole, such programs in their
increasing complexities have proven
DCllCllIIdl, IL ID SldlIIlCO Wy P14oOAA CA-
perts. 1t is their application, it is
claimed, that has prevented more seri-
Gus prison disorders than have oc-
Cured, and has prevented a whole
sale return to society of men more
dangerous than when they we're i'm
prisoned. Many of them have learned
trades. For these reasons, and others,
proponents of such near-ideal systems
defend them as socially and econpmi-
cally desirable
In drawing measure OF compari-
son between the District system and
more nearly perfect methods, analysis
has been little more than superficial.
Volumes have been written In greater
| detail upon what model prison sys-
tenn should embrace. Attention re-
peatedly has been drawn to some Of
! the urgent needs of the District in
; stitutions. From this sketchy contrast,
however. may be more easily gained
realization that what started out to
be a model prison system for the
Nations Capital has been overtaken
| by a shortage of funds and the
passage of time with its attendant in
novations.
Acceptance of this realization by
those who direct the system and by
those who support it, however, may
| be of profit to both in planning a
long time development of penal in
stitution facilities here.