The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-09-26

| Thus it appears that of the 3O2 prisoners pa
| rolled. but a. or IL per cent, have violated the
conditions; of the a. 81 have been accused of no.
| thing worse than removal from the state before
being discharged by the beard; of the remaining
l3, have been returned for petty 'misdemeanors.
| u 1der the head of drunkenness and disorderly
| conduct and ut s. or less than per cent. Of the
whole number paroled, have been guilty of often
| ses of serious nature.
The crimes with which these prisoners stand
charged are among the most henous and the fact
that but per cent. of these offenses have been
| repeated is the best possible argument in favor
OF the general adoption of the parole system as a
| reformatory measure.
1t is, of course. scarcely to be expected that as
| favorable showing as the one here given can be
looked for under all circumstances; nevertheless
the parole system will be found upon trial to be
not only good but great 1t IS founded
| upon the principle so beautifully enunciated by
Portia when pleading with shylock that earthly
seasons just CO.
| Under the parole system the prisoner enters the
service of an employer who is conversant with the
story Of his shame from whom he has nothing to
conceal and to whom he ia ent ted 10 look Cor
sympathy and protection If he labors faithfully,
diligently and Understandings, he will have ac-
quired, by the time his sentence expires an ex-
perience in the special work assigned him that
will render his services valuable to his employer;
he will have formed habits of frugality. temper
ance and self-relance; and he W II find himself so
far adv anced in a career of honesty and useful
ness and so well satisfied with the efforts he has
put forth to develope the Obler and better traits
of his character, that the temptation to diverge
from the path Of rectitude will meet with but
slight consideration from one who has begun to
taste the sweets that well spent Life assures
Ohio is taking the lead in the great cues
ton of PRISON reform and is to be hOnOred
accordingly, and yet she has only done
what every state through its officers should
do. and that is simply this: Meet the ques-
ton fairly. face to face. Let the governor
appoint men Of intelligence to consider it
in all its branches. Let them make them
selves personally familiar with the peniten-
tiary itself. the workings and results Of the
present system. Let them keep the after
career of every prisoner before them. what
ever benefits him is of direct benefit to the
state. Then let them bring their results
before the legislature and compel it to act.
| Everyone cries that the prison is terrible
burden to the state. | acknowledge it. but
to a great extent it is the fault of the state
| itself. There are many men within these
cold stone walls that would now be breath
ing the free air of heaven if there was a
board OF pardOns to investigate into the in
| justice of their further confinement. There
are many more here who could be safely
allowed to ''wOrk out their salvation" if
the parole system could be adopted Thus
leaving the personality Of the convict out
of the question entirely. it would be the
saving Of hundreds. aye thousands of dol
lars to the state. if the legislature can be
induced to take action in this matter. Every
tax payer is directly interested in these re-
forms. Every newspaper i'll the state
should discuss this question thoroughly, and
compel the legislature to take action at
once. There are now over four hundred
men here. the majority of whom are Idle a
heavy burden indeed. and it will be crimi-
nal negligence if means are not taken to
tighten this burden and the best. the surest,
and the quickest means of reducing this eX-
pense will be the establishment of board
of pardons and the Inauguration of a parole
system. u. E..
|