The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-19
Governor Hoch Makes Appeal to
District Judges.
Urges Them to Be Careful About
Youthful Prisoners.
GIVE THEM A CHANCE.
Use the New Parole Law When
Practicable.
Alarmed at Number of Young
Men i'm Penitentiary.

Governor E. w. Hoch today sent to
each of the district judges of the state
letter urging the judges to be more
careful about sending young criminals
ana first offenders to the penitentiary.
He suggests that this class of offenders
be sent to the state reformatory at
Hutchinson, or be released on parole
by the district judge under the parole
law enacted at the last session of the
legislature. The following is copy
of Governor Hoch's letter:
=, my Dear Judge-My experience as
Lgoyernor has greatly enlarged my
vision as to the prison problem and
greatly intensified my interest in 1t. 1t
is a great problem. Perhaps the trend
of civilization toward better things is
nowhere more manifest than in the
realms of penoIogy. Students of Grim
inoiogy know that many men con-
victed OF crime are not bad men at
heart, that man. of them are victims
of sudden temptation, or great provo
cation. of evil associates, or the drink
habit and of countless other con-
cNn.tants of crime. Prison life may
confirm these men in crime or it may
help to reform them and restore them
to sUciety and relieve the state of the
burden Of their cere. Especially is all
this true Of young offenders.
In harmony with these views Kan
sas was one of the first states to es-
IaDllSD a reIOrndCOry I'm 1o50) LOT the
incarceration of offenders between the
ages of Is and 25 years, that they
might be separated from older and
more hardened and hopeless criminals.
But few states preceded Kansas in this
good movement and / believe even as
yet only about dozen have Joined in
it. The experiment is amply vindica-
ted here and elsewhere by the logic of
results.
Our reformatory located at Hutch
inson, has nearly as many of its young
men out on parole are within its
walls, and the record of their reforma-
ton is gratifying indeed. Only about
per cent violate their parole and are
returned to the institution. This in
stitution has reform methods not DOS
sible perhaps in a lpenitentiary. such,
for instance, as q Gay school. the need
of which is evidenced by the fact that
over so per cent of the inmates must
enter the first and second readers, an
alarming showing, by the way, as to
the relation of ignorance to crime.
ITO keep the penitentiary brand off of |
men when possible is matter of ire |
mendous concern not only to them but |
also to the state, for it is a brand that |
won't rub out, and it is vastly more diff |
f1cult for an ex-penitentiary convict than |
for an ex-reformatory inmate to make |
good and every one who fails becomes |
a menace again to society and burden |
TO the state. The law, unwisely, think, |
gives the trial judge discretion as to |
sent to the refornatory or the peniter- |
tiary. I believe they should all be sent |
to the reformatory and transferred from |
there when necessity demands. But /
surely the discretion, if wisely possess |
sed. should be exercised in favor of the |
reformatory unless extraordinary rea-
sons dictate otherwise.
"A recent investigation made by me
revealed the astounding fact that
there are more than 100 prisoners in
a foT1 IA
years of age. There are 40 odd under
20 years, about so under 21 years and
9o under % years of age. These
astonishing figures justify this letter.
Many judges exercise their discretion
in this matter wisely, but some seem
to give II c subject no serious thought.
May I nc without offense call the at
teption of al the trial judges in the
state 20 this important matter and ask
their cordial cooperation in giving
full force and effect to the spirit of
this reform undertaking I have al
ready takeE steps to have as many as
possible of these young men trans
Serrrad TO the refOrmatOry where they
belong, but, alas, they go
there with the penitentiary brand al
ready upon them. |
And while I am addressing the dis
trtct judges on this subject for this
letter will be sent to all of them) may
1 not with propriety call attention to
the law enacted by the last legislature
discretionary parole power
upon the judges and ask that its pro-
visions be given fair trial? Some
judges, 1 know, doubt it's wisdom but
/ beg them to waive their doubts in ia
vor of the experiment, at least until it
has demonstrated its unwisdom in op-
Grafton.
And may I suggest in conclusion
that these subjects be given promi-
nence on the programme of the next
meeting of the State Bar association?
Very respectfully,
"E. W. HOCH."