The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-17

End during the eighteen months in which
the parole law has been in actual operation
l6S men have been Professionally released
upon parole, with the following results:
Received final discharge ................. 80
Term OF sentence expired before twelve
Returned TO the institution ............... u
Returned, awaiting employment .......... l
Delinquent ........,................... s
Number reporting Observation-Disclosures. 80
Total....................,...............162
'Of the twelve mentioned above as re-
turned to the Reformatory five were SEN
fenced for a definite period under the old law
and have since been released from the insti-
tuition upon expiration of sentence. The
number OF trades to which these men have
been sent is LWenty-SiX, including a large
number uEoer the general head OF laborers;
A stlll larger proportion has been employed
by farmers A close watch is kept on the
paroled men. At least twelve monthly re-
ports are required before final discharge,
and the state agent has them under super
vision. They are encouraged to correspond
frequently with the general superintendent,
a privilege which is freely INDUCED in. Their
employment, wages, boarding place, per-
sonal and family affairs are all more or less
friendly and official visits. 1t is we'll to re-
member that these men are not dumped
down into one corner of the State; they
have been distributed among hfty-nine
counties, while seventeen men have been
paroled and allowed to go to work in other
States.
employment; strict inquiry is made into the
standing and reliability of those who under
take to employ them, mans stability
greatly depends upon the way he is treated
on the outside No man should be allowed
to go upon parole into family or workshop
where his surroundings are not of high or
der of excellence. The very strictness of
discipline to which they have been neces-
sarily subjected during their term IN the
ReformatOry makes 1T needful that these
men should be wisely governed Immediately
upon going out.
WAGES OF PAROLED MEN.
I'm financial matters the figures are
somewhat surprising. During the period Of
eighteen months covered by this review of
the parole work the wages earned by the
162 men amount to a total of $2015S.3S. In
addition to this amount of cash wages, a
large number of men receive board, lodging
and washing; seventy-eight are so accom-
modated. If this is computed at an aver
age of So a week, $12, 22S must be added to
the earnings of these men. The cash per
capita of maintaining men in the Reforma-
tory for the fiscal year ending oct. 81, 1885,
is $10S.70. The 1872 men paroled, including
those finally released, those returned or de-
ltnquent, and those still reporting, have full
| flied upon parole up TO date, time equal to
ninety-three years, so that II their total
parole period had been passed within the
Reformatory the additional cost to the State
would have been 4Iv, l09.10. This has been
entirely saved, and. in addition, total Of
has been earned. 1t is surely better that
162 men should be wage earners TO the
amour. of $4,000 and become honest and
peaceful citizens than be continued In the
States expense, hopeless convicts, and 1t is,
L consider, indisputable that the men so go
ing out upon parole, with employment pro-
vided for them, and the constant super
vision of the state agent, are more likely to
refrain from again committing crime than
they are when discharged, as was the case
under the old law, without any employment
or supervision whatever.
Perhaps an even better test of the sue
cess Of the parole system in making trust
worthy men Is shown by the amount of the
savings of the paroled men, leaving out of
account those finally discharged, ana those
returned for any reason. The men still re-
porting, numbering So show in their re-
ports for the last month money on hand or
due to them 81 ,SS2. 20, and this notwithstand-
ing the fact that October has been an espe-
cially heavy month for expenditures in I'M
derciothing, overcoats and shoes in anticipa-
ton of the fall and winter weather.
I'm the parole of men the greatest care is
taken to insure success. Every case is care
fully considered upon its merits, and the
spirit in which a man has kept the rules or
the institution and has performed his work
is regarded quite as much as the actual ful-
fillment of the specific. rules. In other
words the character and intentions of
man as revealed in his general department
are made to tell equally with his observance
of the strict letter Of the l rules; A mans ms
nature Of his crime, his antecedents ana the
freedom or otherwise of his family from
Gliding upon his parole. No petitions or out
side influence whatsoever are allowed to in
tervene. 1t may be mentioned that last
month out of thirty men who, by. strict
compliance with the rules of the Reforma-
tory, were eligible for parole, ana whose
cases were presented because they were so
far eligible, only seven were ultimately
paroled.
to the Reformatory is required 70 make q
the officials Many judges fail to do this
but after man is Professionally paroled a
letter is Immediately sent to the Judge VINO
tried the case. stating that the man has been
authorized for parole, ana asking Tor an
opinion as to the ACCESSIBILITY of such a
course for the reason that some facts con-
corning the man might have been known TO
him that were not submitted to the man
agement
LENGTHENS AVERAGE TIME.
Contrary to the general opinion, the
parole law, as interpreted and applied by
the managers of the Indiana Reformatory,
tends to lengthen the average time for
which men are imprisoned. Thus, from
April l to Oct /. 1856, prior to the enact
ment of the indeterminate sentence law,
the average number of men released after
serving one year was 80 per cent. of the
whole; whereas, from April l to Oct. l.,
1897. under the inderterminate sentence law,
the average number of men released after
serving one year was 10 per cent. of the
whole. / mention these facts because of
the erroneous opinion some hold respecting
the workings of the parole law imagining
that IL is applied indiscriminately and with
little regard to the strictness which is nee
essary in dealing with those who, by Grim
inal acts. have made themselves amenable
TO the law. The slur that Is sometimes ca st
upon the present law a lSid-glove and
lavender-water plan,' has no foundation in
facts, and only rests in the minds OF the
msinformed or of those who willtully OPP
pose progressive methods in dealing with
prisoners.