The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-18
PRISON PAROLE.
The Wert's T1cket-of-Leav
Bill Approved By the
Governor.
A NEW COURT ESTABLISHED.
Some Flaws in the Law-Its Gen
eral Scope and Purpose
Useful.
speesal to he Jersey Ctr NrrA

Special to fhe Jersey ctB N<1ss.
TRENTON, April Is, 1s9l.--A law tha7
looks ike a general jail delivery wa
signed yesterday By the Governor. II h
known as the Werts prison parole bill and
it is now effective. Its provisions are Of
radical character, and it gives 70
the Court Of Pardons OF New Jersey ID
ditional powers. For three years m ef-
fort has been made to secure some ticket
Of Leave system, presumably for the pur-
pose OF relieving the great strain on the
State Prison, which is inadequate &c tho
demand Of the criminal population.
Two years ago bill much superior to
the one now place on the statute books.
was passed. It did not throw open tns
doors OF the st ate Prison and the peni<
tentiaries to all classes Of criminals, -
the new law will It was defective BE-.
cause it gave the parolinz power TO thu
Board Of Prison Inspectors, and the A.
torney- General gave a decision which
made it inoper a atfye. Last year an atfempt
was made, but there was a conflict be-
tween the prison authorities and such Of
the LEGISLATORS who were interested in
the passage OF the bill Two bills were
John Patterson of the State Prison u
much interest ed in parole system, and
anxious for such a law, but the several
bills that he had drawn threw around the
system such pertinent safeguards, that
be could never get it passed He DIRE N
one up early in the session, 50 As TO make
the provisions apply only TO men cominlf-
ted for their Hrst offence. Not directly
of the criminal class, but accidental crim-
inals serving short terms; who are not
friendless nor shfftless He excepted
murderers, burglars, men imprisoned foR
arson. treason, aggravated assault and
battery and the Ike His bill did not
pass, but one prepared jointly by Senators
Marsh aud Werts did, and this Is the ono
lust signed
to be called the Court Of Parole and 10
shall consist OF the member Of the Court
OF Pardon, who are the lay judges nf the
| Court of Errors and Appeals. The keeper
of the State Prison shall be an ex-ofiicer
of the board, and he shall for the work
| on this board receive the annual compen-
sation Of five hundred dollars.
This court shall have regular dates for
sitting and considering petitions. The
| law makes no mention OF the character Of
| the men that shall be released Murder
ers, burglars, embezzlers. forzers and
men confined for the most henious offence
| in the catalogue OF crimes may be re-
/ leased.
The main bulk Of the law, is dsrnted to
| the presentation Of forms and the con-
ditions of the parole.
Tne first requirement asked is that the
men or women, who seek 10 be paroled,
must have good record, and must pre-
| sent evidence that on release they can 90
direct from the prison to some place or
employmenr They must present with
| the petition a copy of the contract of enl-
| ployment, arranged by them OF their
| friends. When the parolsd is released
| from the prison or penite nriary. he or she
| must lead an exemplary Life. Must avoid
| evil companions. not use Intoxicating
| liquors, and work continuously They
/ cannot leave the State of New Jersey.
| The Governor of the State becomes their
| legal guardian. On the first day of each
month they must report in writing
| whether they have violated any OF the
rules, endorsed on the back OF their pa
role. They must inform the Governor
| how much they have earned, account for
all idle time, and give an account Of the
expenditure
As soon as it is discovered that tha
paroled person is going wrong any poles
officer or constable can pick IN the per-
son and return the offender to the prison
\ on order of the Governor or Court OF Par
| oles-
| Certain classes of men, when ont Of par
ole, il they have families, relatives or
| friends. among whom they are living.
4
| be entirely released. and be restored to
citizenship. This is only TO be done on
/ the most direct evidence that they will
not violate any laws, and that the absol-
ute discharge from imprisonment on par
! ole, will not be incompatible with the
| welfare of society.
If any person paroled is rearrested for
i any crime, he must serve. in addition
| to his last sentence or sentences. the
/ time refnirted by the Court of Parole
IN -
| OF parole. with good record. viii be given
discharge certificate pro&erly certified
to by the great seal of the state, and
shall be free men, with all the righss OF
citizenship restored
! The law is faulty in so much that it
does not define how much Of the sentence
of the court must be served before ne can
be paroled. He can be released ten days
| after Incarceration, if the Court of Parole
so desires. The prison authorities do not
1 think this is good bill, but il is the first
| step IN the right direction. The Court Of
Pardons of New Jersey has during the
past two years become notorious for
the character and the number OF its par
| dons. Last year the Court OF Paru0lA
! released 10l convicfs, among them threo
| murderers ana the notorious Mrs. Eya
! Hamilton There were four men released.
who were Immediately rearrested for
crimes and returned to jail The general
statement WIS made that the board WAS
at times made the victim OF pardon bruk-
ers- The book of the State Prison today
show 947 prisoners. It varies each year
I owing to discharges and conTnittzls. Its
high water mark is 1923 There are eighs
persons serving life sentences There are
thirty-f1ye first degree murderers, thirteen
second degree murderers, and fourteen
men incarcerated for manslaughter.
Those serving for atrocious assault and
battery are ~, plain assault, %; assault
with intent to kill, 13 entering and lar
ceny, 10; forgery, u; breaking, entering
aud larceny. o9; grand larceny. 40; high
way robbery. 81; embezzlemsnt. ;.
These offenders Of the law can avail
themselves or this new act. IL they leave
the State and are ever caught again they
must serve their full sentence, but tbs
theory is that II they do leave the Juris-
dicfion OF Governor Abbett aud Court Of
Parole the State is well rid Of nuisance.
Weather Indications