The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-28
THE SATURDAY
<euteme1
BY JAMES M. MOORE

fectively provide for correction and
rehabilitation Of youths found guilty
Of violation Of law; and who were
between the ages of 16 and % at
the time Of apprehension.
1t provides for an authority COM
prised Of three persons who shall
be responsible for the correction
and rehabilitation of youth Offend
ers, the latter to be delivered to
the authority for detention. The
authority then shall provide suitable
quarters at the Cheshire reforma-
tory for male offenders and at the
State Farm for Women for female
offenders.
The meritorious phase of the bill
is that it provides for the authority
to prepare case histories on each
offender during his or her detention
period. On a recent visit to Weth-
ersfield prison, commented on here
recently, this writer had occasion
to discuss with Warden Ralph
Walker the extent of psychological
study made of each prisoner. 1t
was revealed that one study is made
when the man Is first confined and
then summary study at the time
he is scheduled for appearance be-
fore the parole board for release.
This also was true of Cheshire Re-
fornlatory as told to the writer by
Superintendent George Erskine.
Warden Walker was Of the belief
that such a meagre effort was in
adequate but he was handicapped
by insufficient personnel and means
to expand such a program. Supt.
Erskine stated he felt such a proce-
dure, as now in effect, had proven
satisfactory.
We believe that a progressive con-
slant study should be made of each
offender confined to any institution.
Perhaps a comprehensive and
thorough study made every three
months Of each individual would be
suff1cient. BY the method of ro-
tation such program would not
require too great STAFF. It is the
only means whereby it can be de-
ter1nined whether or not the in
dividual is progressing toward social
recovery or is remaining static in
his outlook and reflection upon his
future in society.
A system whereby the individual
offender is given but the one test
upon entrance into the institution
and then a summary test just pre-
vioals to his appearance before the
parole board, just SKINS the sur
face Of necessity, If that much can
be said for it. For exalnple-the
attitude OF an individual upon first
entrance into penal institution Is
bound to be one Of resentfulneSS,
Sullenness, antagonism or any other
similar negative one. Certainly no
true test Of the mans personality
can be determined under such con-
ditions. He may, by nature, be the
overpowered victims OF such emo
tons or they may be the immediate
and temporary result Of his incar-
ceration. They certainly cannot be
adjudged as positive at such a time.
NV 4u4 I4AVA VCou CAAC4A 10 AL<sOC AAA-
til the mans appearance before the
parole board Personally, we can
see little value to this latter sum-
mary examination; for If we were
the individual concerned we would
be certain that every response we
made to questioning would be posi-
tive enough to determine us as ready
for parole.
Periodic, progressive tests are the
only ones capable Of determining
the true identity and condition Of
the individual. Such tests, COM
and thorough in their
scope, made every three months, let
us say, would eventually add up to
a thoroughly understandable equa-
ton of the man. This equation
would then constitute your sum-
mary and could be balanced against
the mans presence at the time just
preceding his appearance before
the board. NJ the study technically
reveals him TO- have bean aatagon-