Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/333

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PRISON LABORATORIES
319

It would be in order to secure the widest possible publication of such information as would prepare the public mind for advance movements here started.

Our representatives in each state could devise their own methods of securing the introduction of the plan into the institutions with which they are identified.

Your committee offers with this outline of recommendations several documents and references, which are at the disposal of this association, and which may serve to confirm and to illustrate the positions here reached.

Respectfully submitted,

Z. R. BROCKWAY,

R. W. McCLAUGHRY,

C. R. HENDERSON, Chairman,

Committee.

This report was heartily and unanimously adopted by the association, and was discussed by the wardens in a special session. The same committee was continued for another year to prosecute the inquiry and promote the establishment of laboratories. In response to a request from the wardens, some further materials are herewith added to the brief outline which served as a basis for the discussion.

The formulation of investigations must be left to the experts who will be appointed directors of laboratories in prisons; but some further illustrations may be presented here in order to make more clear the scope of the purpose of the report. The causes of crime lie in the nature of the offender and in his environment. Methods of reformation and of prevention, to be successful, must be based on knowledge of these causes. The inquiry will be directed to a study of all these elements, physical, psychical, and social.

Examples of physical measurements are such as the following: height, weight, peculiarities of the head, of the palate, teeth, lips, ears, tonsils, face, spinal column. In respect to movements, it is possible to measure speed, lung capacity and action, strength of grip, legs, back, and chest. Physiological defects are discovered and measured, as corrugation of face, inco-ordination of eyes, twitching, pallor, mouth-breathing. All of these throw light on the physical basis of mental life, the power to work, the requirements of training, diet, and exercise. A