CONVICT LABOR FOE ROAD WORK. 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, realizing that the liberties 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. 
Occasional 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 indeterminate sentence, convicts 
assigned to road work may be given the opportunity 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 sentence for his offense. However, it is the invariable rule 
wherever the honor system is practiced that serious infractions of the 
