Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23
PAROLtO
System in Vogue in West
Virginia Prison.
Special Correspondence Ct The star.


MOUNDSvILLE, w. Va. July 81. 1905.
Prisoners from Washington have asked
the prison officials why all the laws govern
ing the prison do not apply to them as well
as to those who sent here from all parts
of the state of West Virginia. They have
particular reference to the law relating to
the parole of prisoners.
why don't you let us out the way you
do the country prisoners?' is the question
that the Wash:ngtonians here frequently
ask.
To see the prisoners from the state go
out long before the expiration of their SEN
tence is something that many of the Wash
ingtonians do not seem to understand Their
questions always bring the response that
in the state there is a parole law, the pro-
visions of which do not apply to federal
prisoners sent from other jurisdictions. 1t
is often declared by prisoners of intelli-
gence that when they return to Washington
they will do what they can to have the pro-
who are sent here from the capital, but
nothing has yet been accomplished
In most of the states there Is a parole
law which is intended to operate to the adj
vantage of the prisoner who shows a dis
position to reform. and those who have
good is accomplished by them.
x
Just because a man has done wrong,
remarked an official of the pententiary,
1T does not follow that there is not some
good left in him. All that many of them
want is some evidence that the state is will
ing to lend helping hand, and they will do
the rest. Let man out upon his honor and
kl-~% \ T.
him. but make him toe the mark in prison
until the last day of his sentence and then
deprive him of the rights of citizenship and
send him out into the world the good in
him is not calculated to assert itself. The
parole law should be extended to apply to
all prisoners alike, and then all would feel
that they were upon an equal footing"
Under the laws of the state convict
who has been paroled remains under the
jurisdiction of the state officials until the
time that his sentence would have expired.
1t is merely matter of his being permitted
to live outside the prison walls, for he must
remain in the state unless given permission
to go outside.
Prisoners who arc serving life sentences
are the only ones who do not come within
the provisions of the parole law. 1t Is re-
quired that before considering any case for
parole the. board of directors shall require
the written report, recommendation ana
opinion of the warden, captain of the guard,
the clerk and the physician in the case of
the applicant for parole. Such officers shall
report the general conduct and habits of
the prisoner, and the probability, in their
judgment, of his remaining on parole with
out violating the law. 1t shall be the duty
of such officers to obtain all the information
possible of the antecedents of each and
every applicant for parole, together with
such statements of the crime committed by
the prisoner and such advice and opinion
concerning the ACCESSIBILITY of granting the
parole. as can be obtained from the judge
who tried the case, the prosecuting attor-
ney and the counsel for the defense. 1t
shall be the duty of such officers to examine
every application for parole, and present
to the board all such cases as shall be ELI
gible, together with any and all papers,
documents and records necessary for
proper and full consideration of each APP
pIicaton, as provided by the rules.