The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-24
WANTS 1T FIXED.
Governor HOch Doesn't Like the
Parole Law.
Would Prefer to Have District
Judges Pardon.
THEY KNOW ALL FACTS
More Competent to Free Convicts
Than Board.
viii Recommend Change in Law
to the Legislature.
THEY KNOW ALL FACTS


In his message to the legislature.
Governor E. w Hoch will recommend
the enactment of a law completely
changing the present prison parole
regulations Of the state, and allowing
district judges to issue paroles. in
stead of placing this responsibility up-
on the state prison board and the gov
ernor of the state.
Il am in favor said Governor
Hoch, of regulation similar in some
respects to that provided for in the
present juvenile court law Prisoners
convicted OF crime should be paroled
when the district judge thinks it wise.
and should thereafter make reports
TO that district judge at specified in
tervals, as is now required of naroIe7
prisoners I don't know that such a
law viii impress the district Judges
very favorably, for it viii undoubtetl-
~ add to their duties onsiderably, But
1t seems to me that the district judges
of that business"
viii you recommend such law to
the legislature ?'' was asked
Yes, replied the governor. Il ex-
pect TO take up that matter in my
message, though 1 had not intended
to make any preliminary announce
ment of my intention. L believe we
should have law of that general
1.-The idea that a man who is con-
vlcted of crime should be punished.
simply for the sake of the punishment,
is going out of date. The most ad-
vanced thinkers are all of the opinion
that the object of the law should he
to reform criminals, rather than pun
1sh them. A man convicted of crime
should be handled in such a way as
viii be most likely to reform that man
and make him lead better life.
I hat in
convicted of first offense can be saw
ed to decent, law abiding life, If he
IS spared from a term in the peniten-
tiary- Association with criminals
tends to make criminals, and that IS
what should be avoided as far as pos
sible.'s
In Missouri there is already in ex-
istence a system of paroles of this
kind. The district judges are each
supposed to be responsible for the
prisoners sentenced in their own court.
If district judge is convinced in his
own mind that a prisoner has been
convicted of FIRST offense" and thar
it would blast his chance in life to ba
sent to the penitentiary, he may i'm
pose the sentence required by law. and
at once issue to the prisoner a parole
so that while under sentence. the man
would really be able to retain his lib
erty, and have chance to reform.
1t is said that some of the district
judges in the Dig counties of Missouri
have from SO to 100 men reporting TO
them all the time. These men are
prisoners who have been sentenced
from that judicial district and who. in
the Judgment of the court which sen
fenced them. should be out on parole.
1t very often happens that appIica-
lions for a parole are received at the
office of the prison officials in which
the district judge signs the application.
and says that "he imposed the mini
mum sentence provided by law. and
believes that the prisoner should be
paroled at once" This very frequently
happens in the case of rObberies. II
the robbery amounted to over $40. tho
man must go to the penitentiary: If &
amounted to less than $40, a term ifi
the county Jail is all that is required.
Sometimes the district Judge feels that
it is not just to send a FIRST cffense'
man to the penitentiary for a robbery
amounting to barely $50. but there is
no way for him to effect a compromise.
Under the proposed parole plan, tho
Judge could sentence the prisoner 10
the penitentiary. and then parole him.
the sentence to take effect in case Of
| any misconduct on the part of the
paroled prisoner
Under the present system. the gov
ernor has the power of paroling prison.
ers, but he waits for the prison board
to hear the application for parole. and
submit it to him.