The record-union., 1893-01-05


ice-this provision, however, may be
omitted, but it strengthens the system to
included it. The law then provides that
after a convict serves one or more years,
the prison governing board, or author
ity, may, in its discretion and upon
record of good conduct, give the prisoner
his freedom.
When the convict thus goes out of con-
fnement he still remains the ward Of the
State and subject to be returned to the
prison at any time. and to forfeiture of
credits and to serve out term up to the
maximum provided by the law, though
his sentence may have been less. He
bears credentials that he is a paroled
man and that he is under surveillance
by the State. He is required to report
not less than once month to the prison
authorities, giving his location, employ
ment, amount of wages earned, condi-
ton, etc. If in employment, the en-
ployer subscribes his report, certifying
to its correctness. If not employed, but
cared for by his family, other certification
is required.
The man during his parole is forbidden
to visit saloons, dance and gaming houses
and low places, or to associate with the
criminal and depraved classes. He must
keep sober, be industrious, if able bodied,
and be orderly and violate no law. So
long as he does so, police authorities are
forbidden to interfere with him, to
shadow or threaten him, or to employ
him as stool-pigeon. If at any time the
convict becomes destitute, or feels in
danger of return TO his old paths, he has
the right to notify the prison authorities
and to be returned to the prison without
loss of credits.
Under this system, then, the paroled
man goes out with the distinct statement
to the public that he is the States prison
ward, and that it has trusted him with
freedom. The old convicts possess no
power to COW and terrorize such an one
by threat of exposure. Going out with
out concealment Of his character and
with the Warden's Endorsement, he will
not be refused employment. On the con-
trary, experience proves that such men
secure work and receive encouragement
to continue in reformation and cease to be
burdens upon and a menace to other
people.
Wherein is there benefit to society by
this system? 1t reduces the number of
convicts confined, and thus greatly lessons
the cost Of prison maintenance; for every
man kept idle in prison, or not made self
supporting, some other man labors. It
tends to make effective and permanent the
scheme of the law which conceives de-
privation Of liberty to be not only puni-
tive, but for reformatory purposes. The
man while confined in prison is taught
that he must live without indulging his
appetites and passions; that he can be
subject to discipline and still be man;
inconsistent with decent living.
AS a paroled man he goes out again into
the temptations of the world with every
incentive and inducement to exercise
over himself the restraint that was for
one year or more compulsory. He has
constantly before him this proposition:
fsTf I
law-abiding, will not be interfered with
and will enjoy full liberty and be pro-
tected by the State. 1 will forfeit all and
call upon myself graver penalty if I give
rein to my appetites, or fail to exercise
self-restraint." The longer he is out on
parole and observant of the requirements
put upon him, the stronger and more
self-reliant he becomes and the more
rapidly his reformation progresses.
On the other hand, under our present
system, we keep the man for definite
term, redueible by credits gained. No
matter what the character of his offense,
the prisoner is rated with all the other
convicts. No matter how sincere his de-
sire to reform, we turn him out at the ex-
piration of his term practically penni-
less, branded as a convict, with every
mans hand against him, the police of
cities instantly treating him as a danger
Gus being and warning him to leave their
jurisdiction. If he desires to reform and
endeavors to be sober, honest and true,
vicious discharged convicts find him out
and blackmail him by threats to disclose
that he is a Jail bird" unless he com
plies with their demands. Under this
COW they frequently compel the perse-
cuted wretch to serve them in criminal
ways and at last break him down and
drag him back into the channels of crimi-
nal life.
This is the testimony of every PEN
ologist, of all prison officials, of the War
dens of our prisons and Of every man
who has made study of the subject-to
wit, that the discharged convict under
our system has ninety chances against
him to ten for him, of reformation and
attainment to position of ordinary use
fulness to society.
NATIONAL QUARANTINE AND
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