The Review, Volume I, No. 9, September 1911Various
History
The Review, Volume I, No. 9, September 1911
Various
Prisons -- Periodicals
“There are many men in the prisons, however, who commit crime when
under the influence of liquor. They become brutes when under the
influence of liquor, but when sober and temperate are perfectly
normal, first-class citizens who may become a credit to their various
communities.”
* * * * *
_Transferring Prisoners._--A recent Auburn (N. Y.) newspaper item
states that forty-four prisoners were that day transferred to Comstock
prison, a journey of about 200 miles. “At 9.30 the prisoners were
manacled by twos, with handcuffs on their wrists, and short lengths of
chain between their feet, making the act of walking as difficult as
a three-legged race. They were marched by twos to the outside prison
gate, and lined up while the guards placed themselves in position. At
the word, the gate swung back, and the line of gray suits filed out,
with a guard in blue at the side of every ten or twelve men. Marching
to the New York Central station across the street, each man carrying a
small bundle containing a few private belongings, they waited for the
train which was half an hour late. A crowd of morbidly curious quickly
rushed to the spot.
“When the train finally pulled in, the prisoners were marched up the
steps of a special car and down the aisles in regular order. Some
difficulty was experienced in getting the men, impeded as they were, up
the car steps, and they all smiled at the bystanders as if they were
enjoying the little trip in the open air. The guards took up their
positions inside the car, the doors were locked, and the train pulled
out, leaving the crowd to comment upon the late spectacle.”
Germany’s methods could teach us much by comparison. Transfer of
prisoners is specially frequent because in Prussia practically all
persons are under a central authority, the department of justice,
which transfers prisoners according as fluctuations of population in
the prisons occur. By arrangement with the railroads--which in Prussia
are under governmental control and operation--specially constructed
railway prison cars are attached to early morning or late evening
trains, the cars being so constructed as not to afford public display
of the prisoners. From the interior of the prison the prisoners are
conveyed in vans to the railway stations. So important and frequent
are these transfers that a small corps of prison department officials
are assigned solely to this special work. This is a “made in Germany”
humane plan that deserves our contemplation.
* * * * *
_A Michigan Prison Farm._--The Detroit (Mich.) News prints the
following editorial, entitled “Prison Farm Redemption”:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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