The Delinquent (Vol. IV, No. 3, March 1914) — John Shaqi
The Delinquent (Vol. IV, No. 3, March 1914)Various
Science
The Delinquent (Vol. IV, No. 3, March 1914)
Various
Prisons -- Periodicals
In other ways the Medical Department is of great assistance to the
management of the institution, especially in furnishing to it reports
of findings in individual cases of limited mental or physical capacity,
so that the facts contained in the report may be considered in making
assignments to work. Everyone, especially prison wardens, can readily
see the advantage of this.
Not long ago, one of the boys in the School Department was reported
to the management for apparently making no effort, particularly in
his physical training exercises, to develop with the class, and was
indolent in other studies. He was sent to the doctors for examination,
and they learned by applying the X-Ray that he was suffering from
tuberculosis of the shoulder joint. It is needless to say that the boy
did not merit punishment under the circumstances.
Out of the fourteen thousand commitments to the Chicago House of
Correction last year, three thousand three hundred and seventy-two were
treated in the hospital, besides those who were prescribed for in the
cell house, whose ailments did not require hospital care. Two hundred
and fifteen were major surgical operations.
The results obtained in this work have attracted the attention and
commendation of all who have observed them, especially judges of
the courts, and captains of the police department, who could see an
opportunity for great good to come to many individuals, their own
work facilitated and simplified, if treatment could be given and
observation made before the cases were disposed of in court.
In order to do this and prevent legal technicalities from arising
by receiving patients before commitment by the courts, the House of
Correction Hospital was organized by the executive officers of the
institution as individuals, and is operated under a license granted
by the city, under the name of the Sceleth Hospital. In one section
of it, regularly committed sick prisoners to the House of Correction
are kept, and in another section those under arrest, and cases pending
in the courts, are brought by the police, placed under treatment and
observation, and when able are taken to court with a statement from
the physicians as to mental and physical conditions, so that the court
can more intelligently dispose of them. Some are returned for further
treatment and confinement under fine or sentence; others may be held
to await the action of the grand jury on more serious charges; while
others who had been treated for alcoholism, and for the first time in
years were free from the effects of liquor, physically able and willing
to support their families as they should, would be allowed to go home,
with no record of fine or imprisonment against them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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