The World’s Model Prison.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 7, 16 February 1907, Page 28

The World’s Model Prison.

The " With’ World Magazine ’’ contains a description, by Air. V. Al. Hamilton, of the Michigan State Prison, U.S.A., which claims to lie the world’s model penitentiary. Although it contains seven hundred of the worst characters in the States, the inst itution is governed, practically speaking. by kindness. The convicts are allowed all sorts of privileges; they can earn money for themselves, and by consistent good conduct they may rise to positions of trust and responsibility. The first st<y» was the abolition of flogging. Every Saturday afternoon they are allowed three-quarters of an hour freedom on the greensward. As this privilege would be revoked were it abused, the prisoners themselves are the best safeguards against abuse. There are not more than thirty warders, and they are only armed with canes. No firearms are allowed within the prison gates. The prisoners are graded according to conduct; the best have a blue uniform, those on probation a grey. Only the incorrigible, who are deprived of all privileges, are in the convict’s striped dress. One prisoner is mentioned who, under the older system of prison severity, had been brutalised into a regular criminal, but was now in process of reformation. Under the sway of kindness he educated himself, and now does work that it would otherwise cost the State a thousand dollars a year to have done by a free man;

An extraordinary statement was made by the Deputy-Warden when asked whether it was safe to have so many menkillers strolling about. He said:— “From the standpoint of honesty, trustworthiness, and reliability, the murderers are the best men in the prison, as a class. Alen generally kill while under the influence of an overwhelming passion. They may have great provocation, and believe they are only protecting their property or families, or avenging an unpardonable wrong; and a very decent sort of a ehap may have a bad temper, but still be an honourable man. Of course, thieves who kill to save themselves from

arrest, Or those who commit wilful murder. hardly come within this category. But in actual practice we find the men of liest character to lie those who are here for murder. Ido not attempt to explain the fact, but it is a fact. The contractors (men who contract with "the State for prison labour)" find them so, and are always anxious to secure tlu-m. The thieving tramps and city loafers. Who ordinarily are only sentenced to short terms, are the worst people whom we have to deal with.” All prisoners are treated alike until they qualify or disqualify themselves by conduct. AD sentences for crimes less than murder are indeterminate. The prisoner is detained until his conduct justifies his being released on parole, after having served the minimum sentence. Tie must, however, before release provide himself with a first friend, who will find him employment or look after him on his discharge. ’The prisoners are allowed to talk at their work, but must lie silent during meals and on the line of march. After doing the amount of work required by prison regulations, they are allowed to work for themselves, and what they earn is put to their credit. They are allowed to have musical instruments in their eells. Often theatrical companies visiting the town give a performance in the pretty little theatre built by the convicts. This management by kindness is long past the experimental stage. It has been found that discipline by force ami fear, though easy, is most destructive of the self-re-spect and the manhood of its subjects.