The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-24
REFORMATION OF CRIMINALS.
MINNESOTA'S PAROLE SYSTEM
DOES MUCH GOOD
stnfe Prison Agent Whittier's Re-
port Shows That 112 Prisoners
Are Now Enjoying the Benefits
of ParoIe-Au of Them Arc En-,
gagged, Some I'm Responsible Po-
sitfOns.

gagged, Some I'm Responsible Po-
sitfons.
State Prison Agent Whittier yester-
day transmitted his report to Supt
Moulton, of the st. Cloud reformatory
and Warden Wolfer, Of the state prison
at Saltwater
The report embodies complete
statement as to the standing and con-
duct of every prisoner discharged on
parole from both OF the state penal
institutions.
AT present there are 112 prisoners at
large In the state who are enjoying
parole, and who are fully under the
law, having lived up to the conditions
or their parole.
OF this number forty-two were re-
leased from the state prison and seven
" from the state reformatory at ST.
Cloud
Three of these are working on Capt.
Coles farm near Fergus Falls and are
getting along well. The rest of the
paroled convicts are scattered all over
0he state, in several cases occupying
positions of responsibility. One man
draws a salary Of eighty dollars per
month, and in every case during the
last month, Mr. Whittier says they
have demonstrated their desire to be-
come recognized as law-abfding citi-
zens, by a practical demonstration that
they can be such.
The large number coming from the
state reformatory Is accounted for from
the fact that the st. Cloud institution
has to do with young men only and
those not hardened in crime. The in
mates Of this institution receive a
greater recognition from the state, the
object Of the reformatory being more
of correctional nature than to inf1ict
very severe punishment.
Only about 10 per cent of the con-
victs have violated their paroles since
the parole system first came into vogue
in this state
The length of the prisoners paroles
varies considerable, some serving a
couple of years, and others a few
| months outside of the prisons before
| lection to the rules Of the prison au-
I thorities
The average time served outside is
eleven months.
Mr.. Whittier, whose duty it is to look
after paroled convicts, stated yester-
I day that people were not nearly as
adverse to employing an ex-convict If
| the proper proof was forthcoming that
he was anxious to become a respecta-
BILE citizen.
The board had on file In the warden's
office applications from people all over
| the state for the services of this class
of labor, considerably in excess of the
supply.
There was time when it was almost
impossible to find any employment
whatever for an ex-convict, but that
had ceased to be the case some time
ago.
The excellent results obtained
through the present parole system in
this state had strengthened the con-
| ffdence of the people in the possibility
of honest service from a reformed con-
Wet.
Scarcely any cases of breaches of
trust had come to the notice of the
board. Employment was found for
them in nearly all walks of life. In
the counting house, in the factory and
On the farm they were earning honest
wages, from dollar to two dollars
per day.
In a number of cases some of the
most prominent men in the state had
given employment to released convicts,
who had been recommended, and in
every case had they come up to the
expectations of their employers.
The state enters into a contract with
all persons employing paroled prison.
ers which requires that they shall,
aside from the payment of certain
consideration as salary, take a friend
ly interest, council and direct them in
the ways of right.
One of the most beneficial results of
the parole system was that it separated
the man from his associates in the
prison, and gave him a complete change
of scene and air.
No prisoner was released until en-
ployment was found, which had
great tendency to make him self-sup-
porting, even were he not so inclined.
If he quit the employment secured for
him, he was at once liable to arrest.
paroled prisoner stood a much bet
ter show in the world than the regular
iy released convict