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

Chapters

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.

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

A popular 19th-century American essayist and editor, he mixed wit with sharp observations about everyday life, travel, and politics. He is still widely remembered for co-writing The Gilded Age with Mark Twain, a title that became shorthand for an entire era.

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