Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-22
Rockefeller, Sd, Is Discovered
As Prison Reform, Worker
Research, Covering Parts of Years, Is
Summed Up in Program to Reuamp
Entire Criminal Procedure.
Py the Associated Press.

Py the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May Ala tall young
fellow who spent parts Of three years
on a tour of prisons listening to the
troubles Of youths behind the bars was
identified today as John D. Rookie
teller, Sd, namesake-grandson Of 1.-THE
richest man in the world"
The identification came from Mr..
Rockefeller himself. He gave 1t re-
luctantly.
Il am not news" he said. with an
earnest smile. 1T Is the work that
is important"
THE work." he related enthusiast
tically, is q broad program of reform
in the handling Of prisoners. 1t is
directed first at changing the phi
losophy snd methods Of the existing
system, and second. at making good
citizens OF those who are caught in
the tolls
Visited Several Prisons.
To reform prisons, it Is necessary
to know something about them. So
John D. Rockefeller, Sd. 32-year -old
heir to Americas biggest fortune,
went to prison.
He went. in fact. to a number Of
prisons. He spent days at it. over
period OF several years. He went
through cells and dining halls and
workshops. He discussed their prob
lens with wardens and guards. But
his greatest interest was in talking
with prisoners between the ages OF
16 and 81 to find out why they were
there and what they thought OF the
society to which they must some
time return.
What he learned is summed up and
amplifled. by the social worker who
accompanied him. in a little book
called Youth in the Tolls" (the Mac
milan Coz, a report on q study of
juvenile delinquency by the Boys
Bureau. private welfare agency to
which Mr.. Rockefeller belongs.
The book says our present system
Of law enforcement makes criminals
Of youthful offenders instead OF re-
forming them, and that the system
must be changed before our crime bill
will come down. More than that, 1t
offers plan for the change.
Keeps Views to Self.
All the book says about Mr.. Rookie
feller's connection with it is that he
was chairman of the Boys Bureau
Committee which sponsored the study.
That mention Is buried in the fore
word. But the real story that began
six years ago is much different from
that.
He took time off from his Office in
Rockefeller Center to visit jails and
correctional institutions with the bu-
reaus sociologist. the late Pryor Grant.
and one or more of his committee
members. Danforth Geer. jr: George
NJ Hallwachs and Edward L. Rich
ards.
The first trip was to Sing Sing.
Visits followed to the old penitentiary
on Welfare Island. correctional hos
pital. Tombs Prison. reformatories
at Warwick, Hampton Farms and RAN
dalls Island.
His views he keeps to himself, for
he considers himself no expert and
realizes he only scratched the sur
face" of prison life. But he speaks
with conviction about the findings Of
youth in the tolls" in which Sociol-
ogist Grant and Criminologist Leonard
v. Harrison make these observations:
University Of Crime.
"A prison for adults is in the nature
Of q university Of crime. So is large
correctional training school (reforma-
tory all too often a preparatory school
leading to the university -"
The codes Of prisons are similar in
principle to politically run municipal
governments A stack or two Of ciga-
rettes will buy favors and soft jobs.
Every Job has its own graft, and fees
are split with higher-ups.
Standards Of decency are violated,
II only because they are the standards
of decency approved by the society