“Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison,” of which Mr. W. C. Heilbron, assistant public examiner, St. Paul, is the author and publisher, is a neat volume, replete with halftone illustrations of scenes, views and incidents of this institution, occupying 134 pages of text, including pictures.
The frontispiece is a remarkably good likeness of Hon. Henry Wolfer, the warden, under whose guidance during the past eighteen years the Minnesota State Prison has made its remarkable penological and financial success.
To one unacquainted with the modus operandi of dealing with prisoners in a penitentiary, “Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison” affords an accurate and sustained story from start to finish. In this book is given a detailed description of the reception of the prisoner, the manner in which he is handled, [pg 157] clothed, fed, assigned to duty and governed by the resident officials, with excellent sidelights upon the situation.
The illustrations are numerous and give interior views of buildings, shops, departments and hospital, together with interesting scenes of parades, drills and other matters of moment to the reader.
Citizens—even those who have visited penal institutions—obtain but a very scant conception of the method and manner in which they are conducted by a casual observance upon the occasion of a visit. “Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison,” however, is written so that all may gain a proper conception by reading it, and the illustrations materially aid in that respect. This book will be the means of doing a great deal of good in removing false notions regarding inmates and it ought to enjoy a large sale.—(Prison Mirror, July 22, 1909.)
EDITORIAL.
On the first page of this issue of The Mirror will be found a brief review of the volume entitled “Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison.” Until recently the publication of matter of that character has been tabooed by managers of penal institutions. However, there is no harm in such publicity. Conditions are constantly improving and penologists recognize that fact. Corporal punishment and the lockstep have been abolished in many prisons.
The problem confronting wardens is not “how to punish prisoners,” but rather how to reform them and restore them to society as good citizens.
The Minnesota State Prison is referred to as a model, and, while the buildings now occupied are old and antiquated, unfit for prison purposes and manufacturing, nevertheless the morale of the inmates is of a high grade and credit is due to those who have brought this condition about. As the author, Mr. W. C. Heilbron, truly states, the first two months of incarceration for the average prisoners provide punishment enough to last a lifetime. Of course this does not apply to all inmates, but it is certainly true of many of them.
It is neither the purpose nor the province of The Mirror to laud any one in particular regarding the management of the Minnesota State Prison. The facts speak more eloquently than all the eulogies that could be uttered. The Mirror, however, desires to direct the attention of the public to the fact that no harm is done by the publication of such a volume as “Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison,” and much good may result from its compilation and circulation.