PRISON REFORM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 5

PRISON REFORM.

HOW CRIMINALS SHOULD BE PUNISHED. Mr Thomas Holmes, a well-known authority on tho subject, has in the February Pall Mall magazine an interesting article on prisoners and prison life, in which lie makes sonic suggestions for reform. He contends that the'present course of prison treatment, is certain to demoralise any man, and should bo altered. Ho suggests, first and foremost, that thero must be an abundance of work provided for the prisoners-work that, shall some use of brains yixl, intelligence. Prison industries must be provided of n kind that would throw sonic interest into the lives of the prisoners, even if the articles made have to bo sold in the open market. He would also abolish tho ticket-of-lea-ve system. Mr Holmes would have judges' sentences final, unlefs peculiar circumstances intervene. A slight improvement in t tho conditions under which prisoners live should be their reward; give skill and industry a chancc of improving the conditions of the workers, let them have a little bettor food occasionally, and a fow humanising influences in their cell, and many of them will respond to the opportunity. Industry and skill will then heccmo habitual, and other advantages might then be given. Further relaxation?, with occasional lectures and maybe concerts—anything to humanise. "Fancy," exclaims Mr Holmes. u an infolligent mail being put to bed at 7 o'clock night after night—to lie awake hour after hour, to lie driven in Upon himself with 110 possible chance of forgetting the past even for a brief moment !" The whole method cf prison treatmo nt is. Mr Holmes goc& 011 to contend, "so wasteful, so destructive of intelligence and manhood, that one wonders who conceived it." In America they do things better. The Prisoners' Aid Society there is a public hedy. and the prisoners arc constantly visited by its members. When the governor and chaplain have come to the conclusion that any ]irisoiier is fit for liberty, they have power to allow him out on parole. He is then placed under the superintendence of tho parole officer. Should his conduct, not prove satisfactory, the parole officer has the power to give him into custody and return htm to prison. This system, Mr Holmes thinks, might be partly adopted in England, but only for first offenders. For the hopeless class of criminals—the men who arc at war with society—short soutenoes Mr Holmes regards as useless. Fortunately, the number of snch men is comparatively small, and thev are fairly well know-n to the police. These cuinijisls ■ Holme,? would dctain-for life,

But. even so, lliere is nc reason, lie says, why they shonid bo a great, burden upon the community. Tile skill, enternrisc. and industry _ that these men have "exhibited m criminality might easily be turned to account when they arc under detention: and it. might to be 110 difficult matter for these men to earn their own living