Scientifically, psychologically and practically important as is the
structural side of this great prison problem, I have yet to see
any workmanlike attempt to establish for prison planners a code so
carefully developed and yet with an elasticity to adapt it to various
localities and climates, to the end that the inhumanity of the present
day, 1920, toward prisoners would be for all time impossible.
The tremendous security and help that such a code would provide for the
development of state prisons and jails and reformatories is at once
apparent.
The complete findings of a competent Code Committee would be the
average of the experience of all penal housing problems throughout the
country and should be determined by a two-group committee, acting under
an organization of national scope. In one group should be available
the experience and suggestion of the leaders in penal administration,
medicinal, psychiatric, industrial, vocational, educational and
religious activities. The second group should consist of a small number
of architects, engineers or contractual experts--men who have actually
planned and structurally executed prison buildings and whose practical
experience would enable them sympathetically to translate into
constructive form and crystallize the theoretical standards recommended
by the sub-committee on strictly scientific phases.
As it is an admitted fact that apperception and interest are the
cardinal principles of thought foundation, it may be seen that the
chance of improvement in the prisoner will vary in accordance with the
thought and action required of him. In order, therefore, that this idea
may be efficiently carried out, the prisoner, immediately on commitment
to prison, should receive the benefit of an expert clinical examination
to determine through his mental and economic possibilities what branch
of work he should follow during his term of imprisonment to insure a
better existence and a chance to live a decent and productive life
after discharge.