The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-09
PAROLE LAW WORKINGS
SECRETARY BUTLER TALKS OF THE
RESULTS OBTAINED.
Number of Men ParoIed from the Two
Indiana Prfsons-HabituaI
Criminal Class.

"Now that the indeterminate sentence
and parole law has been in operation for
four years. some idea Of results can be OBJ
tanned from the figures" said Prof. A. w.
Butler, secretary OF the State Board of
Charities, yesterday. I'm no other Sta.e
Is this law carried out as in Indiana On
this account great interest has been
aroused, not only among our own people.
but also among the people of other States.
We receive numerous inquiries to the
result OF the working of this law in our
own State. We are now in a position to
answer such inquiries. as very complete
and accurate records have been kept.
1.-The two state prisons In indiana were
merged into one, known as the Indiana
State Prison, on April 1, 1897. The insti-
tuition located at Jacksonville was changed
into the Indiana Refcrmatory, ana Its IN
mates are restricted to an age limit of
thirty-hve. All convicts above this age
are incarcerated in the Michigan City pris-
on The indeterminate sentence and parole
law was made TO apply TO both institutions.
During the four years ending April 1, 1901.
both prisons had paroled LA men-the Re
formatory s33 and the State Prison 3OS. OF
this number 135 have been returned 10 the
Reformatory and twenty-one TO the State
of unsatisfactory cases has been 147 paroled
from the Reformatory and thirty-five from
the State Prison. The earnings of paroled
men during the four years have amounted
to sls40S3.s7. The who have gained
their final discharges from parole have had
on hand or due them S36 92S. 43. This finan-
cials statement possesses unusual interest,
when 1t is considered that IL relates to men
who were not either earning or saving
members of society prior 20 their incarcera-
ton in penal institutions.
1T will be noted that the number of men
returned for violation OF parole has been
only 1875 per cent. of those released from
both institutions, and the number of I'M
satisfactory cases has been a little less
than 10 per cent. In other words of those
sent out from prison because of their
claims Of being benefited by the work of
these institutions, all except 10 per cent
nave thus far demonstrated their ability
10 lead proper lives on the outside.
HABITUAL CRIMINALS.
while large number of men have been
paroled. the habitual criminals have been
confined for longer periods than under the
old system. Therefore. the indeterminate
sentence law is not held in high favor by
this class of offenders. AS a result, when
such men secure their final release from
prison, they always ask for a railroad tick
ct 10 some point outside of Indiana, for
they want to get away from the operation
of this obnoxious statute. Under this law
they cannot calculate upon serving a def
mite term in prison, and do not have any
idea how long they will be confined.
"One of the most valuable features of
the Indiana law Is that il provides an
agent, whose duty ii is to secure homes
and employment for paroled men, and TO
visit them and supervise their conduct
until they are finally released. The indie
terminate sentence and parole law has
been made applicable to the Indiana Wom-
ans Prison, although not many women
have yet been paroled under it."
Professor Butler has prepared a table.
furnishing an abstract of the results of
the operation of this law i'm the State
Prison and JeffersonvfIle Reformatory, be-
tween April l, 1887, and April l, 1901, fol-
lows: