blackmar: penology in Kansas. 177 



supposition that they are, from that time on, able to care for them- 

 selves in a manly way. Of the discharged prisoners by the furlough 

 system over 75 per cent, have completed their three years with credit 

 to themselves, which speaks well for the permanent reforming charac- 

 ter of the Elmira system. There is need of such a school in Kansas. 

 When the Hutchinson reformatory was projected, commissioners were 

 sent to study the Elmira system and other systems and it was deter- 

 mined to carry out or follow as nearly as possible the former, believ- 

 ing it would be of benefit to Kansas. Certainly a reform prison is 

 needed at preseut for the younger criminals, where they can be sepa- 

 rated from the old and hardened and be placed under the best influ- 

 ence possible. One chief detriment to the effective working of such a 

 reform school in the West is that it is an expensive institution, and 

 that the people of to-day are not willing to pay sufficient taxes for the 

 support of an institution in which so much care is given to those who 

 have committed crimes against the state. There is a feeling here still 

 that it is better to give support to our educational institutions and to all 

 efforts along the line of educating that part of society which is already 

 good and making it better, rather than spending so much money on 

 that which is broken down. But it must be remembered, as was stated 

 in the foregoing principles, that the care for the broken down parts of 

 humanity is only in the interest of general humanity and should be 

 considered upon that basis. However, I think also that a reformatory 

 could be carried on at Hutchinson on a less expensive basis than that 

 one at New York, and with proper management it could be made to 

 go a long way towards supporting itself and still give proper reforma- 

 tory practice for all who should come within its scope. At least the 

 Hutchinson institution should not be abandoned under any considera- 

 tion whatever. It would relieve the present overcrowded condition of 

 our penitentiary and provide in a large measure for a class which are 

 not sufficiently provided for.* 



Discharged prisoners from Lansing find but little difficulty in 

 obtaining work in the mines if their previous training has prepared 

 them for it. So, also, those who have trades well learned need not be 

 out of employment and the prison authorities render assistance to 

 prisoners in a general way in obtaining work after being discharged. 



Much more might be said about criminology and penology in Kan- 

 sas, of a more scientific nature than what is contained in this some- 

 what general discussion ; it is the intention of the writer to refer again 

 to this subject in connection with the study of sociology at the Uni- 

 versity of Kansas. 



* The Kansas Legislature at its recent session made an appropriation to corcplete ttie 

 Hutchinson Reformatory. 



