The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 50) November 1911Pennsylvania Prison Society
History
The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 50) November 1911
Pennsylvania Prison Society
Charities -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Periodicals
He commended the system recently adopted in the District of Columbia
under which inebriates are sent to an institution in the country, where
they are allowed to work in the open air under wholesome environment
and are not branded as of the criminal class. “Sooner or later the
student of criminology must come to a realization of the importance
of the study of the child.” Heredity was mentioned as a factor in the
problem, and the subject of early environment should receive careful
study.
He congratulated the Association for their good work in advocating the
adoption of laws providing for the Indeterminate Sentence. This does
not mean that a man must always be discharged before the time of his
maximum sentence, it may also mean the creation of tribunals to decide
whether a man is ready to be let loose upon society regardless of the
time of his sentence. In other words, our prisons and reformatories
should be conducted as hospitals and as institutions for those whose
minds are diseased, from which patients are discharged upon recovery of
their malady.
THE BIG MEETING.
The interest of the citizens of Omaha was displayed in their attendance
at the mass meeting held on Sabbath afternoon in the Auditorium of
the city. This building has accommodations for several thousand, and
was nearly filled. This meeting was addressed by Professor Henderson,
Warden Gilmour of Toronto, Canada, Bishop Tihen of the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Lincoln, Neb., and Maud Ballington Booth. It is not my
intention in this communication to present to you even a synopsis of
what was said on this great occasion, but such meetings arouse interest
in our cause to many whom our published reports never reach.
Professor Henderson condemned the changes of officials in our prisons
on account of political conditions. He condemned the construction
of iron cells for prisoners, saying that it was absurd that in the
construction of prisons some dealer in structural iron should impose
upon the officials a building more suitable for the caging of animals
in a zoölogical garden.
Warden Gilmour of Toronto, Canada, emphasized the importance of fresh
air and sunshine as a reformatory agency. “If we can take our prisoners
from the jails and the workhouses and build them up physically, which
we must do first if we would build them up morally, we have made the
first great step toward reform.” He has a farm of 840 acres, to which
he has sent from 800 to 900 prisoners. Of them, he has failed in the
reform of 3 out of each 100, and has succeeded in 97 out of every
100. The great majority of our jail population does not consist of
criminals, he said, but of men who have been the victims of their
environment. With the proper environment, such as fresh air and
sunshine, wholesome work, kind treatment, trust reposed in them, and
the sympathy and help of men and women interested in their welfare,
they become useful members of society.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account