“The Constitution laws, of nearly all the States have been enacted since the National Prison Association took strong grounds in favor of this feature, in which reward and punishment go hand in hand. A system of classification first introduced in the Elmira Prison Reformatory has been adopted in substance by the majority of all classes and
GRADES OF PRISONS.
As the work goes on it will be found to lead step by step to the indeterminate sentence law, or a system which holds the prisoner in the control of the law, until he has given evidence of a reformed life.
EDUCATION.
An interesting change in the method of conducting prison schools deserves consideration. Illiterate prisoners of all ages, cripples, and men of clouded intellect are brought into a real school, with hours of instructions each day. Education is only given in the elementary branches, but such great progress has been made, that it would seem possible to extend its curriculum especially with the long sentenced offenders.
PRISON LABOR
remains an unsettled problem, except its future in the South, and here and there in the North, where the expense of support has been met by the earnings, show no inclination to adopt measures really leading up to its eventual abolition as a means and measure in prison discipline.
“Convicts should be constantly employed in intelligent labor or work having a beneficial object and result. We should all hope that common humanity, which underlies all hearts, must some day agree upon a system of labor for all ages and conditions, it has been considered a man’s common heritage; the most helpful to his restoration to honesty and virtue.
BERTILLON SYSTEM OF IDENTIFICATION.
“To promote efficiency to the system of measurement and photography throughout the country, Congress will be asked to enact and establish such a National Bureau. When that has been secured, many facts as to crime and criminals can be made plain to all. For the repeater, severity is mercy. On that thought much could be said, for it underlies all systems and methods of modern prison discipline. If we contrast the conditions, methods, and laws now the rule in all prisons with those of one hundred years ago, there is great reason for thankfulness and hope for the future.”