Penology from Panama to Cape Horn [Reprint 2016 ed.] 9781512807646

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] PENOLOGY FROM PANAMA TO CAPE HORN

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS

ARTHUR MURPHY

By John Pike Emery PENOLOGY FROM PANAMA TO CAPE HORN

By Negley K. Teeters

Penology From Panama to Cape Horn

By NEGLEY K. TEETERS

Philadelphia UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS For TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS

1946

Copyright

1946

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Manufactured

in the United, States of

London Geoffrey Cumberlege Oxford University Press

America

To HERBERT ADOLPHUS MILLER

Teacher, Counselor, and Friend

Preface IN writing this book dealing with penology in South America the writer has been constantly aware of several responsibilities. Perhaps the most important is that he realizes that this book represents the first of its kind. In a previous work by the author, published in 1944 and entitled World Penal Systems, it was pointed out that there has long been a dearth of material on Latin America penology written in English. Few other sections of the globe have been thus slighted. It was possible to gather only meagre details on prisons and penal philosophy of the several countries to the south and it was obvious that these were incomplete and, to some extent, inaccurate. Subsequently, in the summer of 1944, the writer was awarded a grant from the Cultural Relations Division of the Department of State to make a survey of some of the countries in question. But, even with this financial assistance which made possible a sojourn of four months over a wide territory, it proved extremely difficult to see everything that should be seen, to talk with everyone officially connected with penology, and to interpret adequately the many things worth seeing and ideas worth expounding. Difficulties were many. Perhaps it is no more than fair that they be enumerated so the reader may know the limitations of the material contained in this work. First, the time spent was so short. Four months were devoted to eight countries: Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Obviously this was not enough. The time spent in each country ranged from one to three weeks. At the outset it was decided not to visit Venezuela and Paraguay. Uruguay later was added to the list of countries not visited. It is

viii

PREFACE

necessary for the traveler to spend at least a year in order to accomplish an adequate task in evaluating such a complicated sphere of social action. The second handicap was that of language. The writer knew no Spanish or Portuguese. However, many South Americans are conversant enough with English to express themselves satisfactorily. With the aid of some interpreters, including representatives of the Cultural Relations Division of the Department of State and of the Coordinator's Office, this difficulty was minimized. But technical details cannot be understood without a thorough knowledge of a language. T h e third handicap, always present when one visits a foreign country, is the differences in culture. The economic, social, and political philosophies are different f r o m ours and they differ country by country. It is a mistake to view all South America as one homogeneous area. The writer has tried in this book to keep the basic differences in mind. Nevertheless he may be accused by some of misinterpreting or misunderstanding f u n d a m e n t a l concepts which a r e reflected in penal codes, prison practices, or in other phases of the subject. The attempt has been m a d e to assume the role of a penologist, who insists that essential h u m a n needs a r e alike the world over. Such a penologist must condemn, wherever he sees them, neglect, official inertia, apathy on the p a r t of society and its representatives, as well as cruelty. The author attempts to be f a i r but at the same time critical. He would want South Americans to assume the same attitudes in evaluating the penal practices of the United States. South America is vast and travel complicated. Many prisons and penal colonies are almost inaccessible. For example, to visit any of the argicultural colonies of Colombia or Ecuador, located as they are in the jungle Oriente, would take a week or more. Aside f r o m the difficulty of travel, there is a health hazard to consider. The traveler f r o m the States, innoculated as he must be before he leaves for a sojourn in Latin America, is constantly aware of the dangers that may arise f r o m the dubious drinking

PREFACE

ix

water, the food, the milk, or f r o m insects and other like hazards. He is warned by public health officials in the States, by his f r i e n d s and other travelers not to indulge in unbottled drinking water or uncooked vegetables. He is even admonished to peel personally all f r u i t he may wish to eat. And this gratuitous advice applies to hotel dining-rooms in practically all countries, capital cities included. T h e author is indebted to the officials of the Cultural Relations Division of the Department of State for the financial grant which m a d e the trip possible and for the cooperation of the several attaches in the various countries. He also wishes to thank Srta. M. Arce of the Spanish Language Section of the United Nations, formerly instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, for reading the proof and checking the Spanish terms. However, the author assumes all responsibility for any mistakes that m a y persist. N.K.T. Temple University, July 15,1946

Philadelphia

Contents Chapter

Page

PREFACE I II

vii

LATIN AMERICAN PENAL P R A C T I C E

1

PANAMA

50

III

COLOMBIA

66

IV

ECUADOR

102

PERU

123

BOLIVIA

151

CHILE

162

ARGENTINA

191

BRAZIL

214

INTER-AMERICAN COOPERATION

249

INDEX O F SUBJECTS

259

INDEX O F PERSONS

267

V VI VII VIII IX X

χι

Illustrations Facing MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA Druuing

by John

H.

page 1

Geiszel

COIBA P E N A L C O L O N Y , P A N A M A

54

UNITED STATES P E N I T E N T I A R Y , GAMBOA, C A N A L ZONE

54

MANUAL TRAINING: COLOMBIA

FAGUA

REFORMATORY,

NEAR

BOGOTA, 94

NATIONAL P E N I T E N T I A R Y , BOGOTA, COLOMBIA Courtesy

oj Dr. Jorge Pinzön

110

Ferro

NATIONAL PENITENTIARY, QUITO, ECUADOR Courtesy

of Dr. Pedro

110

Nunez

R E C R E A T I O N : N A T I O N A L P E N I T E N T I A R Y , LA PAZ, BOLIVIA Courtesy TYPICAL

of Dr. Manuel SOUTH

AMERICAN

JAIL:

WEAVING

PONCHOS,

PERU Courtesy

156

Lopez-Rey CUZCO, 156

of Lyda Richman

Tidwell

NATIONAL PENITENTIARY, SANTIAGO, CHILE

172

LOCATION O F PENAL INSTITUTIONS, ARGENTINA

198

I LH A G R A N D E P R I S O N

C O L O N Y , N E A R R I O D E J A N E I R O , B R A Z I L 234

M O D E L F O R N E W P E N I T E N T I A R Y , F E D E R A L D I S T R I C T O F R I O DE JANEIRO ( B A N G U ) , BRAZIL 240

xiii

SIEL* 'l.

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J t PRONTO Ν J \ P I N A L COLONY ' PERU i

" V E C U ADORE AM, • ( ^ R l Ä T E

" ^ - - ^ c ü i c a J Ö ^ LÄPAZ .BOLIVIA b t l L O HORIZONTE) BRAZIL IEVEI P i H A L COLONY/ NITEROI , braiil ) S / C O PAULO, B R A H L ) *

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