St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-23
HOPE FOR CONv|CTS.
Gov. Merriam Inaugurates
Conditional PardonS for
State Convicts.
A Set Of Regulations for the
Governance Of Prison
Managers.
How a Convict Can Secure
Parole From the Peni-
tertiary.
A Reform Recommended by a
Special Investigating
Committee.

Gov. Merriam, acting upon report
furnished him by committee OF the
board Of corrections and charities, has
decided to establish conditional par
don system. He last evening issued the
following regulations:
Whereas, The Legislature of Minnesota, in
1880 enacted that the board of managers OF
the state reformalory may cause to be trans
ferred any person or prisoner confined IN the
state prison, and who is serving out MS hrst
sentence therein TO the reformatory, under
such rules and regulations as the poard OF
managers of said state reformatory ana tne
board of managers Of the state prison IN
Joint session shall prescribe" and provided
for the parole of such prisoners uLoer IKE
regulations to those governing other prison.
ers i'll said reformatory.
And, whereas the provisions for the 3a-
role of state prison conyicts under such legls-
lation are imperative for lack Oh room al the
state refoImatory; therefore
The governor of Minnesota. by virtue OF
the prerogative vested IN him by the constl.
tuition. wishing to secure 10 the prisoners OF
the state those privileges which the state
legislature intended TO bestow, and believing
that such action will induce to the retorma-
ton of convlcts, good discipline and puDnc
welfare, hereby establishes the following
regulations
For Conditional Pardons:
Ffrst-These regulations shall apply only
to convicts who are serving their hrst SEN
Ience III the Minnesota state prison. ana are
net known to have served time for felony
i'll any other prison: and it shall be the duty
Of the prison warden to inform hlmseif as
far as practicable as to the previous prison
recoad of conYcts under his charge.
Second-No prisoner shall be eligible for a
conditional pardon who has not served at least
the minimum time prescribed by law for the
punishment of his offense unless his SELL
tence be for one year or less.
Ihird-NO prisoner sentenced Tor one year
or less shall receive conditional pardon be-
fore he has served at least tWO-thirds Of his
sentence.
Fourth-The board of managers shall estab-
fish thrae grades, with system OF marks,
under sue h regulations as they may prescribe,
and only first grade men shall be eligible Tor
conditional pardon.
Fiflh-The board of managers shall not
entertain any petition, receive any written
communication, or hear any argument from
any attorney or other person not connected
with the prison in favor of the conditional
pardon of ny convict.
Sixth-Ali applications for conditional
pardons shall be made to the board of man
ayers through the warden, but no such appll-
cation shall be considered by the board Of
managers until the warden shall file writ
ten statement comprising:
a. The fact that the convict has served the
minimum time prescribed by the law for his
offense or, if sentenced for one year or less,
that be has served two-thirds Of his time.
b. The fact that the convict has not, so
far as aseertained, served sentence previously
in any prison for felony.
c. full statement of his prison record
showing that he is in the first grade and has
had clear record for at least three months
preceding
Sixth-The warden's statement. that in his
opinion the convict. if released. will lead an
honorable and upright life, and that his re-
lease would be for the public welfare this
opinion to be based. not simply upon the
conYicts prison record, but also upon the
warden's judgment as to his actual purposes
and character.
Seventh-No convict shall receive a con-
ditional pardon unless four members of the
board of managers shall recommend the
same in writing, stating that i'll their opln,
ion.- If released. he will lead an upright and
honorable life, and that his conditional re-
lease will be for the public welfare.
Eighth-The board of managers before
passing upon an application tor conditional
pardon Shall cali the applicant before them,
and examine him with view to forming an
independent impression as to his fitness for
release; they shall also question one or more
Of the subordinate prison officers to the same
end; and they may, if they deem proper, in
stitute inquiries by correspondence or other
wise as TO his previous HISTORIC or character.
Ninth-No conditional pardon shall take
effect until the warden shall certify in writ
ing that suitable employment has been Sc
cured for such convict with some response
bic party.
Tenth-Every prisoner released on a condi-
tional pardon shall be liable to be retaken
and returned 10 the state prison, i'll case he
shall violate the conditions of said pardon.
the same as if he had escaped from the prison
walls
Eleventb-The governor reserves the right
TO refuse a conditional pardon nOtWithStand-
ing the recommendation of the board of
managers, in any case where he may deem it
necessary for the public welfare.
On these Conditions.
The conditional pardon will be issued
to the convict OH these conditions:
| First-He shall proceed at once to the place
| of employment provided for him. and there
| report forthwith to his employer. In case he
| finds it desirable to cnange his employment
| or residence, he shall first obtain the written
consent of the prison warden.
Second-He shall upon the first day of
| each month, until his final release according
| to law. forward by mail, to the prison warden
| at Saltwater, report of himself. stating
| whether he has been constantly under pay
| during the last month, and If not. why not;
| how much he has earned, and how much he
| has expended, together with general state
ment of his surroundings and prospects; and
| this report must be Endorsed by his employer.
Third-He shall remain in the legal Gus
tody and under the control OF the board OF
| managers until the expiration of his full
issue an unconditional pardon.
Fourth lie shall be liable to be retaken and
again confined In the state prison if he VIC
lates any of the conditions of this pardon.
In case he loses his situation or becomes un
able to labor by reason of sickness or other
wise, he will communicate at once with the
| prison warden, who will assist him.
Fifth-The governor and the board Of man
ayers have a lively and friendly interest in
the holder of this pardon. and he need not
hesitate to communicate freely with the
prison warden a saltwater in case he loses
his situation or becomes unable to work by
reason of sickness or otherwise.
From and after this date and until further
notice the governor will not receive or enter
tain any application Tor a pardon for any
convict who is made eligible for condi-
tional pardon under the foregoing regula.
tons. except in cases where it is claimed
that the convict is innocent of the crime for
which he was convicted, believing that every
deserving case can receive due and prompt
| consideration, and that the results will be
more satisfactory TO all concerned than the
immediate consideration of such applica-
hxt Ia