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

"The Indeterminate Sentence: What Shall Be Done with the Criminal Class?" by Charles Dudley Warner is an insightful look into the criminal justice system of the late 1800s and a call for major reform. Warner analyzes the ways society handles criminals, looking closely at how the current system is failing both society and the people it incarcerates. He argues that simply punishing criminals with set sentences isn't working and that the focus should shift to helping criminals change their lives through rehabilitation programs. Warner champions the idea of the "indeterminate sentence," where the length of imprisonment depends on how well the criminal is reforming, not just the crime they committed. He believes that by focusing on psychological and moral recovery, and by providing the right kind of support in reformatories, criminals can become valuable members of society, ultimately making communities safer.