[THE GREAT MISTAKE.]
OUR PENAL SYSTEM IS A RELIC OF EARLY SAVAGERY.
Our whole penal system needs changing. It is a relic of barbarism, and stands a monument to the early savagery of the human race.
How is it possible for a man or woman to lead an upright, useful life after they once come under the ban of the law? Society combines to hound them down. They are forbidden to place themselves on an equality with others by narrow, human prejudice—the "holier than thou" attitude of that portion of the public which has not yet been "found guilty."
We are Pharisees, all, and sit in judgment on our fellowman, because we do not yet realize the mixture of evil and good that is in every man—none are exempt—only some are caught and punished.
Men have come to us, desperate, despairing men, crying: "For God's sake, what are we to do? If we get a job someone will tell our employers we have 'done time,' and we are fired. If they find us on the street, we're arrested. Where can we go and what can we do?"
A man may commit murder and not be a criminal, and yet a sneakthief is always a criminal and every burglar a potential murderer.
Social conditions produce criminals. As well expect a rose to bloom in a swamp as human nature to flower in the slums.
All our prisons are hotbeds of tuberculosis and most prison physicians hold their positions through political pull.
In our opinion a greater distinction should be made between the penitentiary and house of correction. Petty misdemeanants should not be branded with the prison stigma. We also favor suspended sentence for first offenders.
The crime and its punishment should be separated. At present the personal equation does not enter into the case when a judge imposes sentence. The man's environment, what leads him to break the law, and how best to help this particular man, all are questions that should be carefully considered before sentence is pronounced.