Moreover, we ascertain who among the men that have taken the course has shown special interest, and is inclined to become the warden of a prison, and we send him for several months to one of our best conducted institutions, “in training.” Here he takes up the ordinary duties of the minor officials, up to and including the duties of the director of the institution himself. And if he shows himself well qualified, he is assigned as soon as possible to the position of representative of the warden, or his associate in the case of especially difficult tasks, and in this manner comes to learn the duties of prison warden in a number of institutions. And from this group of men the directors of the prisons are chosen.
As to the subjects of the lectures of the course, I would say that I cannot be very specific, for they change from year to year. The lecturers are both executive and theoretical. Among the teachers I might mention Professors Kahl, von Hippel, and Moehli. Among the subjects are the following:
Prison System and Prison Architecture.
The Mentally Deficient: their responsibility and methods of treatment.
The Treatment of Juveniles.
Organization of the Prison Administration.
If you wish, I shall be very glad to send you the program of the last course.
I can say, with much satisfaction, that we have really succeeded with these courses, and that they have found very favorable mention both in the press and in Parliament. The participants in the course complain sometimes because they are driven so hard, and I confess that the mental strain is considerable. But they nevertheless show great zeal and industry.
IMPORTANCE OF AN UP-TO-DATE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT IN A PENAL INSTITUTION.
By John L. Whitman, Superintendent Chicago House Of Correction
[Read at the American Prison Association, October, 1913]
It would seem as though the management of penal institutions, and especially houses of correction, could do no greater service to society than to give to their inmates the medical treatment and training they so badly need, and send them back to society at least somewhat prepared to take their places among men with a more equal chance of success.
As a result of observation made at the Chicago House of Correction, along these lines, the medical department of this institution has been equipped and enlarged during the last five years, so as to carry on some of the kind of work indicated.
The demonstrations made are most encouraging, not only to continue, but to still further increase the capacity. At present, instead of having only one physician, as in former years, who was expected to look after the needs of the entire population in all the different branches of medical science, which is impossible for one man to do, no matter how efficient and interested he might be, we have in addition to Dr. Sceleth, the Medical Superintendent, whose entire time and attention is given to the department, four internes, who are physicians, and two professional and registered nurses, who also reside on the premises, and are instructors for the inmate nurses used in accordance with their capacity.