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

Name: The Indeterminate Sentence: What Shall Be Done with the Criminal Class?
Author: Charles Dudley Warner

By Charles Dudley Warner

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Law & Criminology Sociology

About This Book

The essay examines a small but entrenched criminal class that lives by crime, arguing that short, successive terms and current penal practices socialize and harden offenders instead of reforming them. It treats the problem as economic and educational, outlines the fiscal and social costs of sustaining an outlaw class, and distinguishes this targeted concern from broader prison-reform issues such as poverty and juvenile exposure. As a remedy it advocates an indeterminate sentence system intended to incapacitate habitual offenders, deter prospective criminals, and create opportunities for disciplined, scientific rehabilitation.

About the Author

Charles Dudley Warner

Charles Dudley Warner (1829-1900) was an American essayist, novelist, and social critic, known for his keen observations on American life and culture. He was a prominent figure in the literary scene of the late 19th century and is often associated with the Hartford Wits, a group of writers from Connecticut. Warner's works, such as "Being a Boy" and "Backlog Studies," reflect his insightful commentary on society, education, and the human experience. He collaborated with Mark Twain on "The Gilded Age," which satirizes the greed and corruption of post-Civil War America. Warner's contributions to literature continue to resonate, offering a window into the complexities of his time.