SCIENCE IN PRISON

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1930, Page 8

SCIENCE IN PRISON

EXPERT’S PHILOSOPHY’

ADVANCED NOTIONS

Dr. Walter Thayer, who is cxp-cted to be New York State's new Commissioner of Corrections, lias some vt-r.* positive views of ihe handling of pr.sohers (says the "New York Times"). or ins La ace, he believes that unless a prisoner shows a desire to become a useful citizen after medical, physchiii'tric, and vocational training, ho should be kept behind the bars.

“The treatment of the criminal is to be arrived at by no simple, ‘rule " thumb, ’ but by ' understanding the ■rohltm in each case and by so modi’viiig the criminal .law as to permit oi .•atonal treatment,” Dr. Thayer declares in setting forth some of liis conlnisions following years of service and study in New York State’s penal ind'futions. TTe was in charge of fir ''ananock Institution before. Ir’s retireuicnt and appointment as Commission-' r of Corrections of Maryland.

The average criminal, Dr. Thayer minis out, is in his early twenties, is education has ceased short ol the !• tli giade. and ids intelligence level i’,l average not higher than that ol i 12 or 11-year-old child.

CRIMINAL INFERIOR TYPE. “Wo iiro therefore .dealing with a ' thvtly inferior individual and with me whose etbiefil and- social concepts nre - not- hijzlior than his intoliectti.nl evel,” says''Dr. Thayer, “lie is prothe product of a like heredity <>d the enrhoiuneiit such a heredity would create. As labour goes, he h Mis’dllsd and has’never learned to d ,x anything well. He lias therefore no. real economic basis on which to sell 'is’ efforts, and by repeated lack <f success lias ieveloped a failure Comdex that causes him to enter upon any' undertaking with a degree or ’o-ibt that foreordians him to failure, because of these shortcomings, he i* '•’eking in selt-rcsoect and iself-confi-•l-nce. This he endeavours to compensate for by bluffing his way through •fe. He is a moral coward because he l >re not pit his honest efforts against Hose of bis neighbour with any hope of success and so tries the easier way out and prey upon him.”

In many instances’the first tiling to •ttempt in order to re-establish this type of criminal in society is to try •o build up within the man a feeling >f eonfideirc' based upon a re-created self-respect, suggests the doctor.

“Our attitude toward him should bo such as to convince him that the- programme outlined for his training lias ais real welfare as its objective and every • effort should lie made to conduce liim of our genuine interest,” lie leclares! “These efforts, however, rill be fore-ordained to failure from heir very inception unless prior to heir application a thorough study has been made of'the individual’s life his-->ry. In otlier words, it would he lu- ’ ile 1 to endeavour to make him into a rtmnl type unless we know the factor?* ’>at were instrumental in creating the •Pi-social type. This means careful, •Pensive understanding and painstnk- • i•■■■work by the sociologist, the psyelioVrist. and, in many instances, the •svehiarist.

All) OF SCIENCE

“Each of these sciences has an im- ■ r » - tant contribution to make in the -itudy of the criminal. After each has ' nrl'. its contribution, it may, and many times, will, be impossible to salofrp q). reform H lO , n , ~s ''ii studied, but data acquired will he valuable, as •i-. mn y point the way to preventive in the field of juvenile delinModern science, applied to ’ Vd of penology, does not claim ■ .lie infallible— enough if it .will be ■ v to determine the l factors enter- • ; n fe the formation of the oriminl and to fo.-mntne a plan for the ap••,.,‘ion of reformative treatment and o<-evenfive moasures.’’ Dr Tliaver lays great stress upon ’•V training of the personnel of penal »•* ”t»nhs. and savs that “without ■ , \ ..,n>-,0, f<i apple the necessary rereative measures it would be as well rind less expensive, to continue the slipshod methods heretofore followed.”

“1 am a firm believer in self-govern-ment,” says Dr Thayer, “but would limit an individiuji, to that measure of self-rgovemmeut which he had shown

nself capable of exercising.” Tub fixing of n definite period of confinement for a definite offence is a legacy of old-time legal procedure. Dr Thayer asserts, and to all intents and purposes asks the Court to prophesy "'.lien tl\e prisoner will be fit for release.

“Unfortunately, the practice oF criminal law in many communities has degenerated into a contest of wits beveen the legal talent representing society and that representing the defendant.” he declares