Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-16
Monday Morning, Jan. 16, 1882.
POLICE SUPERVISION OF HABITUAL


 CRIMINALS.
 In some countries habitual criminals are sentenced to police supervision. This is the case in England. About twelve hundred criminals are released annually under police supervision in the Metropolitan police dis trict, including London. Seven days prior to the discharge of prisoner sentenced to police supervision or released upon ticket-of- leave, notice of the fact, together with full description of the prisoner, is transmitted by the governor of the prison in which he is confined to the Convict ofice'' of the Metro politan police, in duplicate, with blank cer- tifcate form and photograph of the prison CT. On the Wednesday previous to his iber- ation, officers from the Police department visit Millbank prison (from which Alterations into the Metropolitan district are made), and they inspect separately each convict to be discharged, read the particulars of his con- viction to him, and verify the description sent by the governor of the prison. The convict is then served with form of notice directing him where to report when dis charged. During the time in which the pris- oner is at liberty on ticket f-leaye, he con- tinues to report monthly his change of ad- dress, and his removal to or from any police district. Descriptive and monthly report forms are sent to the police station nearest the prisoners place of abode, and each re- port is recorded on the form and sent to the chief divisional office for registration, unless the address is changed, i'll which case the forms are sent to the central office for regis tration. A careful description of each dis charged prisoner under supervision is kept, containing all distinguishing marks and 8 history of past crimes. This record is much consulted by the police in tracing the ante oedents of prisoners. Certain conditions are attached to each ticket of-leave, and if a man under supervision violates any of these conditions he is punished by imprison- ment not exceeding three months, and by a revocation of the ticket of-leave, if the au- thorities so direct, in which case he is re- quired to serve out the balance of his origi- nal sentence.
 This system works very well in England, ! and the Massachusetts Prison Commissioners, who have been looking into it's operations, !
 
 be necessary to adapt it to this country it 1 will work well here. The commissioners in | their report to the Legislature will call at- | tention to the matter and will say, among other things: "The conclusion, not only | from these facts, but from every investiga- ! ton in relation to the criminal classes, | whether made by the police or in courts or ] io fhotf io n ~Eoio of men (and women) who have resolutely set l their hearts to live in violation of the laws ! of the commonwealth, or who are so weak as I to be unable to withstand the temptations to | lives of crime. In either case the wise policy I for the State is plain. Whether the personal | interest of the prisoner or the interest of the I public be considered, the system which will | secure longest confinement for this class, or \ the most pressing restraint while at liberty, | will in the end do the greatest service" The l believe that surveillance in I the manner proposed would prove a strong | from crime and strong induce I ment to reformation; and they also think | that criminals unwilling to undergo this su- pervision would leave the State, and that 4 thus the State might be virtually freed from the professional criminals. They close by | dismissing the sentimental objection that a man who has served sentence of imprison- ment for crime is entitled to resume his place in society, having expiated his offense, and that it savers of revenge to continue to follow such man in his freedom as though he was still criminal. The commissioners that such person cannot reasona- bly, ask to be allowed to assume the same po- sition which is occupied by one who has never transgressed the laws. His return to a life of freedom should begin with proba- tionary period. He can more easily return to an honest life if constantly restrained from wrong doing by fear of detection and such restraint is due both to him and to society
 The commissioners present their views strongly, and perhaps if the Massachusetts Legislature is not too busy about other less important matters, some notice may be taken of them. There really seems to be no good reason why habitual criminals should not be more carefully watched in this country than they are, and there are many good reasons why they should be. We hope the experi- ment will be tried.