Subordinates are found, to be sure, who fill every requirement, and
who could not be improved upon on any basis of wages, but that merely
indicates what might be done, if the appointing power might only offer
inducements for likely young people to come to the institution, and
make them glad to remain.
The State attempts to secure first class work for second class
compensation, and while it may often succeed in individual instances,
the policy is not to be approved.
In conclusion we wish to recapitulate to the extent of indicating in
brief the points deemed by us to be the most important for improvement
in reformatory work, as follows:
1. The recognition of mental incompetency and constitutional
inferiority among delinquents.
2. The segregation of persons of marked inferior equipment and
capacity, and their detention in custodial asylums, and other places
suited to their care and treatment.
(This for the purpose of humanely and favorably disposing of, and
caring for, helpless recidivists, dements, chronic invalids, epileptics
and others.)
3. The furnishing to the public of reliable and important information
regarding the character of the inmates of institutions, and the work
carried on.
4. The need of men and women of higher ideals and higher culture in
places of confinement, necessitating preliminary training, higher
wages, improved accommodations, suitable hours, fair tenure of office,
and opportunity for promotion.
5. The elimination of political consideration from the conduct of the
institutions, and from the appointment of all persons of high or less
high degree in connection therewith.
6. The closest scrutiny into the physical and mental condition capacity
of each person detained, and into his past history and environment.
7. The establishment of a system under which no delinquent shall
be released, unless in the judgment of the board, after searching
inquiry, there is good reason to believe that he can and will maintain
himself without relapsing into crime, and will be of some service to
society; and under which no delinquent will be further held when such a
condition is believed to have been reached.
8. The extension of state agency and other supervisory means for
observing and aiding the delinquent on parole, and for selecting
suitable location and employment for him, and caring for his surplus
earnings.
ECHOES FROM OMAHA
[The American Prison Association held its annual meeting at Omaha,
Nebraska, from October, 14th to 19th. The Review publishes this month
some echoes of the convention. In November further attention will be
devoted to the meeting.]
_Morons in New Jersey Reformatory._--Dr. Frank Moore, superintendent
of the Rahway Reformatory gave an address before the annual convention
of the American prison association at Omaha, on “Mending the Immoral
Moron.” He said, in part:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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