HOUSE OF CORRECTION FOR JUVENILE
OFFENDERS.

Had this institution been denominated, by the Act establishing it, the State Reform School, it would have been a more appropriate name, and more expressive of its true design. That design, with reference to those under its influence, is scarcely different, in its moral and intellectual character, from what the Primary School should be, in relation to its pupils. The aim of each should be to educate both the intellect and the heart. Moral discipline ought everywhere to be united with intellectual culture. While the latter, in the Primary School, is more apparent in the machinery, so to speak, by which it is 'effected, it will still fail of its highest end, unless moral instruction is constantly blended with it. The moral influences may not come with as much observation, but they are no less important. Improve the intellect of a morally bad person, without any cultivation of the moral qualities, and while he may be able more successfully to evade the penalties of law, he is, in some respects, only a more dangerous man in society than before.

Hence, we see what a Primary School should be; and this it is designed the House of Correction shall be. In one respect, however, it goes further than is to be expected of the Primary School. The latter makes intellectual cul⚫ture its more apparent object; but should consider the training of the moral nature equally important. The former places the two considerations on a more equal basis than is done in Primary Schools, as a matter of fact, both

in real importance, and in prominence. But to these features is added another. It is also an Industrial School. Morality, Intelligence, and Industry. Truly, this is a worthy trinity of considerations to impress upon the youthful mind anywhere! If the boy who has fallen into crime needs these teachings, to reform him, the child in the Primary School, who has not yet fallen, needs the same to fortify him against temptation, and insure his safety.

If any one supposes that the House of Correction is some modern Bastile, where unfortunate or guilty boys are immured behind bolts and bars, like a criminal in his dungeon, with nothing to do but to mourn over his loss of liberty, and his far greater loss of the sympathies of his race, and to plot revenge upon society when he shall escape—a more hardened and desperate character than before-he has something to unlearn before he can understand what the institution is; what its aims, or its operations. It is probable that many persons form their opinion of a State Penitentiary, not a little from their ideas of some unfortu nate captive, entombed alive by a cruel tyrant; and then imagine that a House of Correction for juvenile offenders must be similar to their imaginary penitentiary. It will be the design of these remarks to correct such impressions, by a brief review of the establishment of the Michigan House of Correction, and its practical workings in the education and reclaiming of those who come under its influence.

The main object which is, or should be designed, in the punishment of adult violators of law, is a question upon which men differ. Some hold that the great object of punishment is the reformation of the offender; that a State Prison is scarce else than a moral Asylum, where the morally insane may be taken to be treated for the obliquities of their hearts, as the intellectually insane are sent to their appropriate Asylum. Others contend that, while

everything should be done that can be, to reclaim the heart, as well as to reform the manners and conduct of the culprit, the greatest design of punishment is the protection of society; not only by restraining, and if possible, reforming the man, but by making him an example of terror to evil doers, with whom moral considerations are not sufficient to restrain from crime.

Whether the world will ever agree upon this subject, is perhaps doubtful-unless they meet upon the more rational intermediate ground, that both objects are of equal importance. But in reference to those who, from their youth, are sent to the House of Correction, all will probably agree that their reformation should be the great object. Hence, the necessity of the institution; for all agree that, to send them to the penitentiary, is but to hasten and perfect their ruin.

As a School, the House of Correction is designed to do all that the Primary School can do, and more. As a Prison, it is divested, to a very great extent, of those obnoxious features, and degrading associations and influences that attach to the penitentiary, and seeks hopefully to accomplish results, which the penitentiary either regards as of secondary importance, or in which it most signally fails of its end. As to the bare fact of personal restraint, the House of Correction has the character of a prison; and in this it is only like the Asylum for the Insane. But farther than this, it more resembles an industrial school for boys. The appearances of restraint are, as far as possible, avoided. They wear no stripes, or other sign of disgrace, to remind them of their fall, and make them despise themselves; their honor, and their better, higher nature--not rendered obtuse, like the matured man of crime-are happily appealed to, and all their associations and surroundings are designed as much as possible, to cultivate their self-respect, and stimulate them to high and noble thoughts and aspirations.

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The law of hereditary descent is no less certain in its effects upon the moral than upon the physical nature. Diseased parents semetimes give birth to comparatively healthy offspring, but such cases are regarded as exceptions to the general rule; and it is more than probable that if we fully understood the subject, we should find no exceptions. All our race is to a greater or less degree morally diseased. This disease is comprehended in the simple term self; and it descends from father to child. So well aware is the world of this, that every prudent, thoughtful parent begins in the earliest years of his child to apply the remedies for counteracting the natural evil tendencies of his nature, and educate him into the love and practice of virtue, and the avoidance of vice. His first object is to invest his exposed moral nature with armor, both defensive and offensive; so that he may be able to stand unharmed and uncorrupted in the battle of life. Unfortunately, many fail in their design; some from undervaluing its importance, and others from a mistake in the means which they employ; and others, perhaps, from unfortunatę counteracting influences, which they cannot control. And not a few parents are themselves so far lost to any just appreciation of the superiority of right over wrong, that the teachings of their own lives are continual practical lessons of vice to their children; and they are daily offering them a living sacrifice upon the altar of self-indulgence and vice.

But there are thousands of the young, whose parents are removed by death before they have formed a self-reliant character, and learned to resist the enticements of others, or of their own wayward nature. Some of these find protectors who supply their loss, and train them to respectability and usefulness. But many others wander forth, as it were, from the very graves of their parents, one or both, unprotected, to become an easy prey to bad examples, and every temptation.

Under all these circumstances, is it strange that so many fall victims to evil passions, and become involved in crime? Who has ever carefully and kindly taught them fully to comprehend the enormity of vice, and the moral beauty of purity of heart and life? If they were ever told that the wages of vice is disgrace and woe, the serpent of temptation whispered, "it is not so; gratification is happiness!" and as do many who claim to have come to years of discretion, they believed the declaration most in accordance with their inclinations, and were lost.

In contemplating the situation and future prospect of this large class of the young, the humane and Christian heart regards their depredations upon society of trifling importance compared with the moral, and often physical ruin, they are developing for themselves and their associates. They differ from the adult criminal, both in the fact that their moral responsibility is less, and there is a hundred fold more hope, with proper means, of reforming and restoring them to virtue and a useful life. If they have fallen into serious crime, doubtless they should be restrained; but to punish them as we do the adult offender, and imprison them together, has been found the most certain method of making their absolute ruin more certain, and fitting them for a life continuance in the school of vice to which we send them.

With the light which the world now has upon this subject, these simple facts need only to be suggested to obtain the assent of every candid mind. And the State which now fails to provide the best means yet discovered for the protection and reclamation of its youth, is as false to itself, and its aims, as a social compact, as it is to the claims of humanity in its most tender aspects, or to the Christianity which as a people we profess.

Probably the same minds which first conceived the idea of Asylums for the Insane, and other unfortunates, comprehended the thought of the practicability of saving this