Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1896 — To Redeem Convicts. [ARTICLE]

To Redeem Convicts.

In the spring the third meeting of the legislative committee appointee to solve the prison, labor problem, will hie held at the -no thern prison in Michigan City, and it is thought | that it will then be decided by the | commission to draw up a bill to present to the next legislature recommending certain changes in the work at the state prisons. The commission is also coasidering the idea of Classifying the prisoners. Secretary of State Board erf Charities Bicktreii says that it is his observation that the young man who has been sent to the penitentiary for the first time is, in inOst cases, not a bad and confirmed criminal, and his mind is immatured. Being constantly with the older criminals he becomes easily influenced and his mind becomes diseased. The commission hopes in some way to have this stopped. Under the present system the con-

victs learn no trade, and after they leave the prison they have no way to earn a living, duly as common laborers. It is the intention, if it can he done, to do away with part of tire contract labor and put the convicts to learning trades, so that when the men hnve served their time they can make living wages. To make all these changes means considerable co tto the state, but will no doubt be for the best in every instance.