Sir A. Conan Doyle on Borstal
Sir A. Conan Doyle on Borstal is a letter written by Arthur Conan Doyle published in the Daily Express on 5 january 1922.
Sir A. Conan Doyle on Borstal
To the Editor of the "Daily Express."
Sir, — The Borstal institutions contain, I believe, considerably over a thousand youths, many of whom are abnormal and mentally defective, without being absolutely insane.
I cannot see how, under these circumstances, a system of leniency and trust can be worked without the certainty of an occasional scandal. Every one of these youths has been condemned for a criminal offence, and the alternative to put them into a common gaol, where, under a more watchful discipline, such mishaps would certainly be less common.
But is it worth while to abandon this splendid experiment, which has worked well in so many cases, in order to revert to a harsher and more demoralising system.
I am convinced that it is not, and that it is wiser to continue to aim at raising the youths by humane treatment and as much liberty, as is possible, even if it does give occasional openings for the mischievous to escape or for the morbid to do themselves an injury.
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
Grosvenor Hotel, London, S.W. 1.
