The Review; Vol. 1, No. 4, April, 1911

In this 1911 issue of a pioneering prison‑reform journal, readers are taken inside the bustling world of early‑twentieth‑century correctional policy. The pages detail the upcoming National Conference of Charities and Correction, with round‑table discussions on probation, vagrancy, and the care of delinquent youths, while also reporting on legislative moves across several states concerning prison labor, corporal punishment, and new institutions for the mentally ill. Contributions from officials such as the New Jersey Reformatory superintendent highlight a growing belief that scientific diagnosis of mental deficiency is essential to effective moral reform.

Beyond the conference agenda, the publication surveys the broader “prison field,” arguing that reform must begin before incarceration and continue through parole, probation, and community support. It examines experimental approaches—from farm colonies for inebriates to specialized hospitals for the feeble‑minded—offering a snapshot of reformers’ hopes and the data‑driven methods emerging at the time. For anyone interested in the historical roots of modern criminal‑justice debates, this issue provides a concise, well‑documented window into the challenges and ambitions of early 1910s penal reform.