FOR THE INDEFINITELY GAOLED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 899, 19 August 1910, Page 4

FOR THE INDEFINITELY GAOLED.

THE ONLY 6uRE.

Reporting on his visits of inspection during the .past year to the various prisons, reformatories, and tree-planting prison camps,' Dr. Hay, the Inspector of Prisons, states:—

"After having had interviews with a large number of criminals, and- after .exchanging views with responsible officers in r the service, one is impelled to a conclusion which supports the experience of .hose penologists who advocate 1 the principle of the indeterminate sentence. A prisoner knowing that he has a definite sentence to serve under a sys-. tern of remissions,- necessarily limited, has not the. same . incentive to that continuity of•' effort, and progressive effort, which is an essential feature in bringing about his own" reformation.. Generally speaking, continuity of effort is not found in the'criminal—in fact, it is the want of it which in many oases accounts for his .crime; and therefore imprisonment should b« under such conditions as: supply a constant stimulus to good behaviour and hard work. To obtain the best or even tolerably; good results, the prisoner must serve his sentence with, the % full consciousness that its duration.'depends on .is own effort. Be .it'remembered that this requires a great deal, of tho prisoner —in fact, the i very most of which'he is capable; but it has the double advantage of shortening! the period of imprisonment and .qualifying him, both by habit and ability, to earn His livelihood under easier circumstances when he is released. V man \vho has been imprisoned once is more likely to avoid'a second experience -hen he has appreciated the fact that the conditions for earning an honest living as a free man are much easier than those: under which he must earn his release from imprisonment. If a prisoner proves himself incorrigible .under this form of discipline, he awards himself-a long period of imprisonment; but suould he decide to do liis best; he will find that the indeterminate .sentence is short, sharp, and salutary.".