The same magistrate fines the two boys an equal amount; the one boy pays, or his friends pay; but the other goes of a certainty to prison.

Is it not absurd! rather, is it not unjust?
But whether it is absurd or unjust the result is certain--mathematically certain--in the development of a prison population.
During my police-court days I have seen hundreds of youths sitting crying in their cells consumed with fear, waiting their first experience of prison; I have seen their terror when first entering the prison van, and I know that when entering the prison portals their terror increased.
But it soon vanished, for I have never seen boys cry, or show any signs of fear when going to prison for the second time.

The reason for this I have already given: "fear of the unknown" has been removed.

This fear may not be a very noble characteristic, but it is part of us, and it has a useful place, especially where penalties are likely to be incurred.
For many years I have been protesting against this needless imprisonment of youths, and now it has become part of my duty to visit prisons and to talk to youthful prisoners, I see the wholesale evil that attends this method of dealing with youthful offenders.

And the same evils attend, though to perhaps a less degree, the prompt imprisonment of adults, who are unable to pay forthwith fines that have been imposed upon them.
It is always the poor, the very poor, the people below the line that suffer in this direction.