criminals.
Prison life adds another large section to the criminal class. By the
congregate system the prison becomes a school of crime, where the young
offender is both demoralized by contact with hardened criminals, and
initiated into the mysteries of professional villainy. It is a question
whether detention in prison, without remedial influences, is not more
of a loss than a gain. The critical time of a prisoner, desirous of
building up a new life, is when he crosses the threshold of the prison
and goes out into the world. He is met with distrust wherever his past
is known. He is in constant terror of exposure if he tries to keep it
secret. And what does the State do to put him on his feet or to give
him a chance? It gives him a few dollars to carry him here or there,
and bids him shift for himself. And finding every avenue of honest
employment closed against him, he is driven in desperation, however well
disposed he may be, to renew his criminal habits and associates. What,
then, are the remedies, as far as the prison system is concerned?
Chiefly, classification. Let not one who desires to reform be compelled
to associate with those who are almost sure to degrade and debase him.
The neglect of discriminating classification of offenders is a dark
stain upon civilization. Then, again, I believe it to be the duty of the
State to reinstate the penitentiary man in society. This may be secured
by a conditional discharge, the finding of work for him, and the
obligation to report himself at stated periods to the proper authority.

I have regarded it as within the province of my office to thus briefly
set forth what I have gathered from experience in my intercourse with
convicts, as well as from sober conviction, after mature deliberation.
Let the State consider and act.

TABLE SHOWING SENTENCES OF CONVICTS
DURING THE YEARS 1887 AND 1888.

Years. Mos. No.

1 2
1 ... 14
1 6 1
2 ... 745
2 3 1
2 6 15
2 8 8
3 ... 296
3 6 8
4 ... 86
4 4 1
4 6 1
5 ... 164
6 ... 12
7 ... 21
8 ... 6
10 ... 72
11 ... 3
12 ... 8
13 ... 1
14 ... 1
15 ... 13
18 ... 2
20