The record-union., 1893-02-24
WHY NOT TRY IT.!

We are unable to divine the reasons for
an adverse committee report upon Senate
Bill No. l37, providing for the paroling of
convicts. 1t is simple, understandable
bill, and remarkable for its terseness.
The bill provides for Parole Board for
each prison, made up of Prison Directors
and local prison officials. After the mini
mum term has been served by any con-
vict, he may apply to the board to be
paroled. If it deems the case worthy
one, the board may order him to be set at
liberty on conditions, and under regula-
tions that it is to prescribe. But the man
is all the time to be deemed ward of the
State, and subject to return to confine-
ment for the full term of his sentence
with loss of credits gained.
This is all well. 1t would be better if
the indeterminate sentence system were
adopted into our Penal Code along with
parole. Perhaps objection was raised to
the bill that it is extended to life-termers
after ten years of confinement, but that
might have been stricken out and have
left the bill strong and good. We are
aware that some of our prison officials
think California has not yet reached that
stage of settlement, and her people have
not yet had sufficient pathological educa-
tion to justify the introduction of the
parole system.
But while this is unstable ground of
opposition, why not, as a pathological ex-
pertinent, give the system a trial? 1t has
succeeded well elsewhere. and we believe
it is just as well adapted to California
conditions now as it would be fifty years
hence.
Fully one-third of the convicts who are
now charges upon the State Treasury
might better be out of prison and sup
porting themselves, and still be under
the watch and ward, and in the custody
of the State. The reasons for this belief
we have very fully and very frequently
set forth. 1t should not be necessary to
say much more upon the subject now.
But, evidently, it is not fully understood
in the Legislature. The thing proposed
is not sentimental largely, but has been
proved to be practical and economical
The chief purpose of depriving a crimi-
nal of liberty is to reform him-at least to
render him harmless to society; hence
we employ bolts, bars and guards. After
the man has been, by a reasonable term
of confinement, taught that he can live
without indulging his appetites and pas
sions, that he must respect authority and
submit to discipline, the parole system
sets him free, but exercises over him the
restraint of the States right to retake
him and confine him again.
Being deemed fit subject for trust he
is sent out as a ward of the State. to pro-
vide for himself and to become a useful
man among men. and no longer a burden
and cost to the commonwealth. The re-
straint proposed to be exercised is a pow
erful aid to decent living and right doing.
and is helpful in the highest degree to the
tion. He is armed against the wiles and
threats of old prison companions who
lose their power to frighten him with ex-
posure, and threaten while tempting him.
For he knows that to yield means the
probability of his return to the prison to
serve out his term with cancelled credits.
He bears a certificate that he is trusted bv
the State, and this becomes a letter of
credit; he reports at frequent periods to
peace and to prison officers, and can at
any time invoke their aid and protection.
There is every incentive for such man
TO walk in straight path, to labor hon
estly, to avoid bad company, to win
credits out of prison rather than in-in
short to continue far more effectively his
reformation than he could possibly do in
prison. In other words, having in con-
finement profited by his discipline and
the proper spirit, he is sent out with
moral aids and supports to test himself in
freedom, and while exposed to all its
temptations.
This is better far, in our opinion, than
confinement a full term and then dis
charge without any helping and restrain
ing influence about him. Moreover, it is
better for the State, since it tends to
lessen the number of the criminal class,
and at the same time to reduce the cost of
prison maintenance.
Ohio has successfully tried the plan,
New York has it in modified form, and
in both the results have justified the ex-
periments. It is an advance upon the
ticket-of-leave system of England, be-
cause in the latter the convict must not
leave the place assigned to him, and must
report in person to police headquarters
IL