The New Realismin Prison Policies - Address delivered at the Conference of Educational Workers in Correctional Institutions - Aug. 10, 1934

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

Sam Adolph Lewisohn’s address argues that prison policy should be grounded in realism rather than romance, superstition, and sentiment. He critiques reformatories that invest heavily in physical construction and equipment while providing inadequate personnel, education, and psychological reorientation. He also challenges reliance on devices like classification, parole, and psychiatry as panaceas, insisting on defining objectives clearly and pursuing rational, humane goals focused on reintegration into society.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

The New Realism in Prison Policies

Realism vs. romance and sentiment

Concrete example: failures of physical investment

Faith in devices: classification, parole, psychiatry

Defining objectives and rationalizing goals

97-84134-9Lewisohn,Sam Adolph The new realism in prisonpolicies New York 1934 # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ## ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 308Lewisohn,Sam Adolph,1884-1951ZThe new realism in prison policies,by SamBox 497 A.Lewisohn.Address delivered at the Conferenceof educational workers in correctional insti-tutions,held at Teachers college,Columbiauniversity,New York,N.Y。,Aug.10,1934.193413 p.1812300 Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Libraries. RESTRICTIONS ON USE: ## TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 35mmREDUCTION RATIO: 9:/ MAGE PLACEMENT:IA IB IIB DATE FILMED: 7-7-97INITIALS: 96 TRACKING\#: MSH 255 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. O.261934 BySAM A.LEWISOHN 11 30 Address delivered atthe Conference ofEducational Workersin Correctional Institu-tions,held at TeachersCollege,ColumbiaUniversity New York, N.Y.Aug.10,1934. 10031526 畅 ## The New Realismin Prison Policies TF I were to be asked what was the out-I standing characteristic of the presentday,I would say it was realism.In everyfield of social endeavor,we are attemptingto discard romance,superstition and senti-ment,and to replace them by an objec-tive,scientific spirit.This note of realism,I am glad to say,is slowly but surelycoming into the prison field.It is thetask of each one of us to accelerate it asrapidly as possible.Realism is a ratherabstract term and perhaps I had bettergive a picture of just what I mean. The most effective method will be togive a concrete example of the unrealisticattitude.I was recently reading a reportby a distinguished educator on a certainreformatory.It was modern in everyrespect in physical layout.It cost anenormous sum for site construction andequipment.It was located in an agric-cultural setting.And yet this educatorfound that the boys were locked into theircells early every afternoon,with the mostdeplorable effect upon their moral and emotional make-up.The physical equip-ment of the prison was admirable,but thepersonnel was woefully inadequate.Noindustrial plan was provided—no ade-quate educational procedure—no programfor reorienting the man's personality. As a matter of fact,the men enteringthis reformatory came mostly from thecity and it was questionable whether farmwork was suited to their temperament.And yet hundreds of thousands of dollarshad been spent upon that prison and siteas a romantic gesture in the hope thatcontact with the great open spaces wouldsomehow regenerate these young hood-lums.This is a characteristic example ofa lack of the realistic attitude towardprison problems. Another illustration of the unrealisticapproach was the great faith that was putin certain devices such as "classification""parole""psychiatry."Obviously theseare only items in a general program.And yet to hear them discussed a decadeago one would have thought that eachof these devices was a panacea in itself.This attitude is being discarded in ascientific attempt to envision the wholesituation and the ends to be achieved.It Page Fowr behooves those of us who are interestedin securing more sensible prison policiesto help to stimulate this more realisticspirit which is in the air,and the firststep in any program to make our prisonsystem a more rational one is to sharplydefine our objectives. Just what are we shooting at?Formerly there were some questions as towhat these objectives were.The resulthas been that the purposes for whichpublic money has been appropriated inthe prison field have been chiefly for theimprovement of physical plants.Thealmost fanatical intensity of this concen-tration upon the physical would suggestthat our principal objective is prisonarchitecture,prison gadgets and prisonroutine.Who of us who h

FAQs

What does Lewisohn mean by “realism” in prison policies?

He describes realism as replacing romance, superstition, and sentiment with an objective, scientific spirit in how prisons are planned and run.

Why does he criticize certain reformatory projects?

He points to institutions with impressive physical layouts and costly equipment but woefully inadequate personnel, education, and programs for reorienting the men’s personalities.

Which “devices” does Lewisohn question as panaceas?

He questions the great faith placed in classification, parole, and psychiatry, arguing they should be seen as parts of a broader program rather than cures in themselves.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick