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THE CRIMINAL & THE COMMUNITY
THE CRIMINAL &
THE COMMUNITY
BY JAMES DEVON
MEDICAL OFFICER OF H.M.
PRISON AT GLASGOW WITH
AN INTRODUCTION BY
PROF. A. F. MURISON, LL.D.
“GREAT MEN ARE NOT ALWAYS WISE:
NEITHER DO THE AGED UNDERSTAND
JUDGMENT.
THEREFORE I SAID, HEARKEN UNTO ME;
I ALSO WILL SHEW MINE OPINION.”
Job XXXII. 10, 11.
TORONTO: BELL AND COCKBURN
LONDON: JOHN LANE MCMXII
WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PRINTERS
PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND
TO
MATTHEW G. KELSO
AND
SAMUEL GIBSON
FRIENDS INDEED
INTRODUCTION
The importance of the subjects handled in this volume requires nodemonstration. Already, and for long, the treatment of them has naturallyengaged the sympathetic study of philanthropists, and more recently it hasattracted the earnest attention of scientific inquirers. Hitherto,however, the results have been far from satisfactory; and there is ampleroom for further discussion, especially from the standpoint of athoroughly practical man with large experience both of criminals and ofthe social conditions that breed them.
Nowadays there is a growing sense of social interdependence; there is amore general and a more definitely realized aim to elevate the conditionof the less fortunate of our fellow-citizens; there are express efforts ofscientific investigators to discover a firm basis for practical reforms;and practical reforms are urgent. Such tendencies of thought and feelingmay be expected to go far to ensure a warm welcome to this volume.
Dr. Devon’s book is executed on a breadth of scale never before attempted.It has three distinct parts: The Criminal; Common Factors in the Causationof Crime; The Treatment of the Criminal. His[Pg viii] exposition is perfectlyclear; he sees precisely, and he states directly, simply, and definitelywhat he sees and what he thinks about it, very frequently driving home apoint with epigrammatic force. If he throws overboard unceremoniously whathe regards as mere lumber accumulated by the industry of speculationdivorced from experience; if he betrays some impatience with existing