In conclusion Miss Davis points out that one reason why the results are not more satisfactory than they are is the fact that the period of legal control which the reformatory has over a girl is fixed at three years. In the case of a girl of the worse sort it may be over two years before the reformatory can begin to exercise an influence over her. The period of its after-supervision is then inadequate to secure effective results. The reformatory should be allowed, Miss Davis thinks, at least one year of after-supervision, no matter what the length of confinement may be.
REGULAR EMPLOYMENT NOT GOOD FOR DISCHARGED PRISONERS
The Home of Industry for Discharged Prisoners of Philadelphia, Pa., which was organized in 1889 to provide a home and employment for released prisoners, cared for 73 men during the year 1910. These men were given board, lodging, and an additional money remuneration for employment provided them by the organization. This is accomplished at a financial loss which is met by state appropriations, donations, etc. The work provided consists of making brooms, caning chairs, etc., the products being placed upon the market. The Board of Managers, in its annual report says:
“It is our firm conviction that it is a radical error to place a man in regular employment as soon as he leaves prison. There should be a probationary, or convalescent, period in every case. The Home of Industry for Discharged Prisoners provides a retreat for just such a period, where the man can be rebuilt. When he shows by his actions, outside of prison walls, that he is worthy to be recommended it will be quite time enough for the philanthropic to assume sponsorship. The best part of it all is that no sponsorship is then needed, for the man is quite capable of taking care of himself.”
CONCERNING OUR LIST OF SOCIETIES.
In the issue of January, 1911, The Review published a list of societies engaged in prisoners’ aid work, with a request that corrections and additions be sent to the editors. This request is repeated at this time. Instead of the Kansas and Missouri divisions of the Society for the Friendless, the following should have appeared:
The Massachusetts House of Representatives recently refused by an overwhelming vote, to substitute for an adverse committee report two bills relating to capital punishment—one giving the jury the right to say whether the penalty for murder in the first degree should be life imprisonment or death, and the other providing that the punishment should be life imprisonment.