Brockway Reformatory System Summary

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In his autobiography, he characterized his reformatory system as “Socialization of the anti-social by scientific training while under completest government control” (Brockway, 2012, P. 309). He writes that he did not believe in using intimidation to bring about appropriate behavior. Instead he instituted a system of merits and demerits leading to better habits. If an inmate earned too many demerits, he could be retained longer in the reformatory. He also writes that if there was a motto for Elmira, it should have been: “Here ends your customary thoroughfare and to you opens the new and narrow way which leads on to happiness by way of welfare. The wise will choose the path and follow in it; the wayward remainder will be constrained” (Brockway,