The Indeterminate Sentence: What Shall Be Done with the Criminal Class?

audiobook

The Indeterminate Sentence: What Shall Be Done with the Criminal Class?

by Charles Dudley Warner

EN·~32 minutes·2 chapters

Chapters

2 total
1

Part 1

31:35
2

Part 2

0:37

Description

Introduces a thoughtful examination of society's handling of professional criminals, arguing that current methods are ineffective and driven more by sentiment than scientific analysis. It frames crime as an economic and educational problem, urging a systematic, disciplined approach. It defines the “criminal class” as those whose sole occupation is crime and critiques how the prison system often reinforces that identity.

The author calls for a focused strategy to dismantle this small but growing group, emphasizing the heavy financial and personal costs their existence imposes on the public. He argues that treating crime like a business allows society to craft policies that restore self‑respect to offenders while safeguarding citizens. Listeners will encounter a blend of historical insight, moral reflection, and practical proposals that challenge conventional ideas about punishment and rehabilitation.

Collections

Browse all

Details

Language

en

Duration

~32 minutes (30K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2004-12-05

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Charles Dudley Warner

Charles Dudley Warner

1829–1900

Best known for co-writing The Gilded Age with Mark Twain, he brought a warm, witty eye to American life in essays, travel writing, and fiction. His work mixes gentle humor with sharp social observation, making him an engaging voice from the late 19th century.

View all books

You may also like

Washington Irving

Washington Irving

by Charles Dudley Warner

As We Go

As We Go

by Charles Dudley Warner

Backlog Studies

Backlog Studies

by Charles Dudley Warner

Baddeck, and That Sort of Thing

Baddeck, and That Sort of Thing

by Charles Dudley Warner

Our Italy

Our Italy

by Charles Dudley Warner