JOURNALISM IN GAOL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1678, 27 April 1904, Page 75 (Supplement)

JOURNALISM IN GAOL

AN AMERICAN SYSTEM. Among the curiosities of modern journalism may bo classed the newspapers printed and published in some of the American prisons Some interesting information, regarding them is given in the report, of the ComptrollerGenorail o: New South Wales prisons (Captain Xedtenstein) in his report on a ivce.it visit to American and Kuropean piVsG'iiS. In the Elmira Reformatory, whoee wails, it would seem, “do .not a‘prison make,” a weekly newspaper, called the “Summary,’’ is printed. "It is the product of inmate labour and ability, supervised by the authorities. It lias a ciicmutiiDii cf nearly 5000, cue copy hewing given to each inmate not in the punitory division ; the outside distribution being to various persons throughout tuo world who are interested in iienalogical subjects. The inmate editor lias a large exchange of outside newspapers, magazines, etc., and lie culls from them an epitome of the news of the world, o irefully expurgated of reference to vice u,-.d undesirable topics. The paper it'so contains notes of local interests selections from periodicals on sociology, Jiteraiture, and science, and furnishes information as to coming lectures, etc. ‘ In the Massachusetts state prison there is a newspaper railed the ‘‘Mentor,” containing an epitome of news and .articles—written by prisoners—on the leading topics of the day. This is ‘‘a publication of original and first-class matter, not entered at the post-office-as second-class matter, but devoted to the ..guidance of such menrt.nd boys as would appear to advantage in the society of persons iof the better sort.” In tlio Concord prison tlie.ro is a welledited paper, containing an epitome of the world’s news, and possessing much matter of local interest. A copy is supplied to each inmate out of the punishment class, and there is no objection to a prisoner sending his copy to ids relatives when an announcement appears of his promotion, or when an article contributed by him has been accepted. • In the Sing Sing prison. New York, the following unaiscri mating rule is in force:—‘‘Daily, weekly, sensational, immoral!, or political papers or books not. allowed.” Tho _ “Star of Hope” is printed in the prison. “It is a bd-week-ly periodical published reguila.rly in Sing Sing prison. It was founded April 22, 1899, by the inmates, and is edited, contributed to, and printed by them. The population of the four .state prisons and Eastern New York Reformatory have equal privilege in contributing to its columns. Its aims and objects are to be ail acceptable borne paper; to eiir courage intelf.ecitual and moral meiit among its institutional constituency; to acquaint the public with our correct status; to disseminate penalogicall information, and to aid our condition morally by dispelling that prejudico which lias ever been a. hindrance to a fallen man’s self-redemption.” . Captain Neitenstein makes tho following comment“lt is a question whether it would not be desirable, as an experiment, to adventure on something of the sort here. The accepted notion ia to taboo anything in the shape of a newspaper, and to completely cut off the prisoners from all inf or mat ion regal ding the 'outside world. Bur this restriction has never yet been effectually maintained, ail'd • there really seems no strong reason, why prisoners at gaolle reserved for a special class should not be allowed an authorised summary system of information which will filter through even in the case of the most perfectly disciplined prison.”