CONVICT LABOE FOE EOAD WOEK. 59 



adopted the system find that it is possible to so employ from 10 to 

 50 per cent of their respective prison populations, the proportion 

 varying somewhat according to the character of prisoners dealt with, the 

 proportion employed in the majority of States being from 20 to 25 

 per cent. Under this system, as its name implies, much dependence 

 is placed in the honor of the convict; but it should not be supposed 

 that prisoners are worked under it absolutely without guard, for 

 though the superintendents and foremen are not armed and are 

 responsible for from 15 to 30 convicts each, instead of 10 or 15, as 

 under the guard system, they are, nevertheless, able to make their 

 surveillance practically as close as is usually thought to be necessary 

 in the case of the trusties of the guarded camps. Furthermore, it is 

 found that the men themselves, reahzing that the hberties and privi- 

 leges of all are dependent upon the conduct of individuals, will go a 

 long way toward regulating their own conduct and preventing 

 escapes. With the exception that not even concealed weapons are 

 carried by the officers of the honor camps, the discipline is very 

 similar to that in the camps conducted under the modified form of 

 the guard system as practiced in New Jersey and New York. As in 

 the camps of those States, the uniform of the men is not particularly 

 distinctive, there is no whipping, no chaining, no employment of 

 bloodhounds, and the order of the camps is largely dependent on the 

 granting and withdrawal of privileges and not upon the imposition of 

 positive punishment. The inducements which are held out for good 

 behavior and faithful work are : 



A more Liberal reduction in sentence than that granted to other prisoners. This 

 usually amounts to from 5 to 10 days per month, in addition to the regular or statutory 

 good time. 



The freedom of the vicinity of the camps after working hours. 



Permission to indulge in baseball games, quoits, and other outdoor sports in the 

 evening. 



Occa.sional visits singly, in groups, or in a body to a near-by town, and occasional 

 attendance at a theater or entertainment. 



Very liberal mail privileges. 



Better food than the guarded convicts receive. 



In a few States, the payment of a cash per diem. 



Furthermore, when, as usually is the case, the honor system is em- 

 ployed in connection with the indeteiininate sentence, convicts 

 assigned to road work may be given the opportimity of parole at the 

 expiration of the minimum sentence or shortly thereafter. 



Punishment is effected by the withdrawal, either temporary or 

 complete, of any or all the above privileges, and under the indeter- 

 minate sentence the offending inmate may be required to serve the 

 maximum sontcricc for his offense. However, it is the invariable riilc! 

 wherev(!r the honor system is practiced that serious infractions of the 



