Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-02
PARDON VS.. PAROLE.

At the recent debate in San Francisco
before the Pathological Commission, one
enthusiast in the belief Of convict refor-
nation in prison insisted that there are
two hundred men in San Quentin to-day
who ought to be pardcned forthwith.
This, because by observance of prison rules,
respectful behavior, etc, they show that
they have repented their past, and are dis
posed TO lead better lives in the future.
This may be so. But that good conduct
in prison is certainly indicative of moral
reformation is not true. No such moral
thermometric gauge can be adopted with
safety. There are other incentives to good
behavior than reformation. The hope OF
pardon, the lowering of the period of In
generation by credits gained these induce
men to behave who have not abandoned in
their hearts their warfare against society.
The better test, in fact the only test that is
specific, is that which exposes the prisoner,
as such. to contact with the world.
Under the parole system, therefore, is to
be found the true method of sounding a
conyict's apparent reform. Turn him loose
to mingle with the world, but still retain
over him the authority Of the prison Of
fcials. Remove from him the necessity"
that is so largely the excuse for return to
criminal paths, place before him the
strongest incentives to lead a good life,
coupled with the certainty that if he does
not he will be returned to prison, and all
his record of credit be obliterated, and If
the man is sincere in his apparent re
FORM" the fact will very soon and en-
phatically be made evident.
Suppose the "two hundred" to be par
doned out of hand to-day. The State
turns them out with five dollars in the
purse of each. Long before they can get
outside of the prison atmosphere and find
employment the pitiful sum will be ex-
hausted. The police Immediately "spot"
the men as e~x-convicts, and thus impede
their efforts to lead honorable lives So
ciety lifts its hands to repulse them in
their plea for employment old criminal
companions, in case they do secure labor,
levy blackmail upon them by threatening
the revelation that they are "jail birds
At the last sore need and these influences
prevail, and in desperation they return to
their old ways-at least, we can safely as
sumo that three-fourths of them will do so.
On the other hand, if the two hundred
are paroled, they go out of prison boldly
as wards Of the State their true character
is not concealed they are free from police
surveillance. Back of them are the prison
authorities, to insure them against want
and imposition they bear certificates of
capacity and good behavior they are not
turned out, indeed, until places are secured
for them in which to labor. They report
weekly to the authorities. They account
for their earnings and expenditures to the
Prison Commission. They are freed utterly
from the prosecutions of old convicts.
Their ultimate freedom is dependent upon
their sobriety, industry and general good
conduct. They are forbidden to use liquors,
to visit saloons, dives, and low resorts, or
to associate with the vicious or %depraved.
They know that the slightest infraction OF
the rules laid down for them viii result in
their return to prison to serve out their
full terms with loss of all credits gained.
They also know that every day Of good be-
havior while paroled shortens the period
of probation and rapidly brings nearer
the hour when they will be made free, in
deed.
Let any intelligent being compare the
conditions, and say whether under the lat
ter there is not far greater likelihood of
real " reform" and hence of greater good
to the State and actual decadence in the
numerical strength of the criminal class?