Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/671

 REFORMATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS 651

Every sentence shall be a general sentence to imprisonment in the Illinois State Reformatory, and the courts of this state imposing such sentence shall not fix or limit the duration thereof. The term of such imprisonment of any person so convicted and sentenced shall be terminated by the board of managers of the reformatory, as authorized by this act ; but such imprisonment shall not exceed the maximum term provided by law for the crime for which the prisoner was convicted and sentenced.

The board of managers was also authorized to parole the inmates when honorable and useful employment for at least six months could be obtained for them and their conduct justified it. Such paroled prisoners remained in the legal custody of the board, and were liable upon the violation of their parole to be retaken and returned to the reformatory. When the conduct of any prisoner who has served on parole for at least six months is such as to satisfy the superintendent that he will remain at lib- erty without violating the law, he must so certify to the board of managers, who, after a careful consideration of the case and upon being satisfied that the prisoner may be safely discharged, must send his record to the judge of the court that sentenced him, recommending his final discharge, and the judge must dis- charge him.

The board of managers, appointed under this act, reported in December, 1891, that, upon taking charge of the reformatory, they found the buildings in need of reparation and many changes necessary.

The open-dormitory system had been in use in the reform school, but this was now abolished, and cells 7x8x8 feet were substituted in its place. The shoe-shop, which had not proved very remunerative, was closed and a broom factory established, and other trades were gradually introduced. The old lockstep, which had been in vogue, was abolished, and the military system established, with good results. The inmates were organized into four schools and placed under teachers, who gave instruction in the ordinary English branches a certain portion of each day. The farm and garden were brought under cultivation and yielded large returns.

In 1895 Major R. W. McClaughry, warden of the Illinois penitentiary, became superintendent of the reformatory.. He