The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-08-06
The Parole system at saltwater.

The Parole System at saltwater.
Among the recommendations offered in
the report of the special committee on the
investigation of prison discipline, which has
lately finished its labors, there is one relat-
ing to conditional pardons which seems en-
inently sensible from more points than one.
If there is one prerogative of the state execu-
tive which is more easily and innocently
abused than another, it is the power to par
don out convicts. Any one familiar with
the drawing up of petitions, and the man.
ner in which prominent and influential men
are induced to set their names to them,
knows that as a candid expression of gen.
uine public demand for justice or even
mercy they are practically meaningless.
But these formal requests often concern
case of which the governor knows only GER
tain legal aspects, and cannot reasonably
be expected to know more. He cannot per-
sonally investigate the right and wrong of
each case, and when he sees attached to the
petition the names of hundred or more men
whose wisdom and integrity he has no rea-
son to question, it is not strange that he
hestates to refuse and frequently yields to
the demand. AS matter Of fact, these re-
quests almost invariably come from outside
the prison, and naturally originate among
interested parties, friends or relatives of
the criminal. AS testimony to the mans
fitness for release they are worthless, and
as an expression of public sentiment, even
within local limits, they are almost equally
so.
The conditional pardon proposed by the
special committee, however, is based on en-
tirely different grounds, and is intended to
fulfill the letter and the spirit of the exist
ing law. 1t has, and can have, no cOnnec-
ton with political influence. and neither
local prejudice family feeling nor the sick
ly sentiment that throws mantle of maud
lin glOrticatiOn over criminals can modify
or extend its intention. The law under
which these paroles can be given is the one
providing tor the removal from Saltwater
to St. Cloud of certain class of prisoners.
The St. Cloud reformatory being full at the
present time, and its enlargement impOssi-
BILE until after another legislative appropri-
alton can be made, it becomes necessary to
cOnfine at the state prison some men who
would naturally be quartered at st. Cloud.
These men should certainly be entitled to
the same chances for release that would
legally be theirs at the reformatory. The
imposing of certain conditions of conduct
previous to release. the requirement of GER
tifcates from the warden and his deputies
and the conditions of the parole itself put
this class of pardOns in very different Or
der from those granted hastily or doubt
fully. the end in view being often the graf
iication of the people of certain locality,
rather than the actual good of the criminal
or the community to which he belongs.
Such a pardon could not reasonably be
looked on with the apprehension and dis
favor which almost always manifests itself
towards the other kind, by all who are not
directly interested. No one can grudge the
young or weak man his opportunity to try
again. after he has proved, as far as he is
able, his wish and intention to lead an hon
est life. Nor can any outsider dispute the
judgment OF the officers who testify to his
fitness. That must of necessity be a mat
ter on which only those nearest to him and
experienced in the study of criminals can
pronounce. If the entire system of pardons
could be made subject to conditions and
those conditions rigidly enforced, there
would be far less possibility of the abuse of
the privilege, either by the head of the ex-
ecutive department or by injudicious or un-
principled petitioners. The parole system
is growing in favor wherever it is being
tried. The present proposition. as suggest
ed in the report, furnishes most favorable
opportunity for experimenting with it, as
in case of its failure the power to abandon
it is still in the hands of the governor.
Pioneer Press.