Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-27
ADVANCED IDEA.
The District Of Columbia
Judges Ask Parole
For Convicted Men Who Nav
Yet Be. Reclaimed.
Plan to Make Good Men Out of
Those Merely Unfortunate.

Washington, Dec. 26.-Evidence of
the advance of ideas concerning the
treatment of criminals and the effort
to reform them is found in the bill
drafted by Justice Stafford and Judge
Kimball and sent to Congress with the
approval of the corporation counsel
and the commissioners.
The bill outlines a system for the
probation and parole of those who have
pleaded guilty to crimes, but who may
yet be saved to good citizenship with
out the restraining influence Of steel
bars.
First offenders, men who have stolen
20 provide food for hungry children,
young fellows who have been led into
wrong by bad companions and who are
punished sufficiently by being found
out, and the long list of unfortunates
who, under the rigorous laws of the
land, have had to go to prison simply
because there had been no discretion
allowed the judge, may, under the pro-
posed parole, be spared the humiliation
If penitentiary stripes and with the
nd of the parole commission and its
,fticers may turn down the old page
md glue it fast forever.
The plan excerpts all defendants who
ave pleaded mot guilty" and permits
Of nc probation and parole of those
guilty of murder arson. kidnapping and
certain atrocious crimes of violence.
The commission is to be made uD of
two citizens of the District of five
year3' residence and the judges of the
courts dealing with criminals.
The commission will supervise. The
lctive work will he done by a chief
probation officer, three probation Off
,ers, three assistant probation officers
and a clerk.
The bill distinctly states that. where
the judge is satisfied that the best in
terests of the community may be
erved and justice satisfied, he may
suspend sentence for such time and
mon such terms as his discretion will
dictate and turn the defendant over L"
he commission.
The probation guardians will then
watch the man or woman closely. The
offender will have to report to them
at stated intervals.
:. If they tell him to leave drink alone
he will have To do it, or run the dan
ger of the execution of his sentence
lie will be furnished with written
statement of the terms of his parole
70 that there will be no misunder-
Nahding.
Not only will the commission and the
guardians deal with cases where SEN
tance is suspended, but the scope OF
the bill is wide enough to include the
prisoners at the Jail and workhouse
and the various penal institutions
whore district prisoners are held, and
t. let free under parole the prisoners
who show evidences Of reformation.
The bill specifically directs that pro-
baton guardians and assistants shall
make regular visits to these places and
have an actual first-hand knowledge
OF what is going on among the pris.
oners.
The same list of crimes that prevents
the suspension of sentence under the
probation bill prohibits the parole and
probation of sentence after conviction
and after the prisoner is behind the
bars. But all other prisoners have the
chance to escape the plain fare and
rigorous discipline of Jail and peni-
Tertiary if they really show an interest
in becoming good citizens again.
1t would not be an easy matter to go
on parole, once the prison doors clang-
ed shut, with the prisoner on the inside.
The chief probation guardian would
have to be acquainted fully with the
mars prison behavior He would re-
port the case to the commission. The
commission would investigate the mat
ter carefully, and then the court
which passed sentence would pass on
the matter
If the court placed it's approval on
the parole, the prosecuting officer
would have to say eyes" In the case
of United States prisoners, the attor-
hey general himself would give the IL
nal ao- rotation.
The prisoner, himself can recommend
his cN-n parole. Any of his friends have