Press enter after choosing selection

Prison Reform

Prison Reform image
Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
May
Year
1890
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The Uuitarian church was crowded, Sunday even ag, with sa audieDce tbat was anxious to hear the views of Warden Hatch, upon "Prison Reform." Mr. Hatch in his official capaeicy has brought his theories up.m the treatment of prisoners ioto everyday practice, and ha.s opened up a new era in prison management. Under bis idministratioD, the Michigan state prison has become a humane institution, the metbods used being entirely different from those commonly uaed, and whether this ii tbe cause or not, crime hai iteadily decreased since these methodg were adopted. Mr. Hatch covered tbe entire range of systems used in prisons. "Although the world ha9 advanred in other particular, the prigonerg are the game as those of a century ago. They may be a little cleaner and the punishment inflicted may be lighter, but tha eystem ia the game. The idea of indefinate sentences was a crea'.ion of one of tbe old philanthropists wbich was not carried into effect until recently. "The jprisoner placed in pnson accept his condition af ler a time and soon becomes reconciled to it, going to his work without heart. If the prisoners a'e graded in clagses, this becomes changed. The priaoner has an incentive to behaving himself, obeying tbe rules and doicg better work, knowing that by eo doing he will better his conditioD. There are but two wayg of disposing of crimináis - by permanent impri8onment or by reformation. Which is the better ? The term "pnson reform" is often connected by the public with Rentimentalism, but those interested in the work have no such idea f it. They regard reformation as tbe beat method, the ir conceptiou being that the prisoner mast be improved and placed in a condition ao that he will be received back into society again. Little privileges and advitntages granted improve the mind of the convict, and fit him, by culture, to become ■ citizen again. "The ignorant of the state are poured into the state in Tast numbers moothly, an equal number being turned out. These men have refused to accept the privileges of education, church infiuenoes aod sjciecy before coming into pnson, and we dow propose tj givo these same privileges to them while ins'da. We have good schools, church services and an excellent library, all for the benefit of the couvict We beHeve that if he accepts these advantages that, when discharged, he will have so improved his mind, by the influences which have been thrown about him, that be will have a very different view of lifè and its surroundings, tban he had when he entered tbe pnson walla. "The idea is prevalent that every man should be punished fur the same crime in the game manner, but this is wrong. A correctivo punnhment is wbatis needed. A punishment in accordance with the cyme will arouseemotions of fear in others and deter them from committmg the same crime. But when the oeeessary bounds are passed in pumshing a criminal, different emotions are aroused in others and crime is ha9tened instead of deterred. "I have made compliance the standard of punishment duiing the tour yea that I had charge of the Jackson prison, aad the statistici will show that better order das been kept than ever before, and the work done has increased 25 per cent." Duriug his address, Mr. Hatch cited many cases where a few kind words and short argument8 had been uaed by him, with men wbo had bíen punished all their lives; and to see the warden of the prison taking a real interest ia tbem hid been a revelation to tbese men, cbanging their entire manner of living, they being nov good, law-abidin? citiaen.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register