The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-02-11
NEW PRISON LAW PROPOSED.
Big Reformatory for Girls


Among the bills intr odu ced in
the legislature is one providing for
an indeterminate sentence 70:
criminals.
After first providing for the care
of prisoners placed on probation
for minor crimes, such as do not
carry a peDitentiary sentence, the
bill provides that whenever any
person convicted in any Court Of
this Commonwealth of any crime
snail be sentenced to Imprisonment
in either the Eastern or Western
Penitentiary, the Court, instead of
pronouncing upon such convict a
definite or fixed term of imprison-
ment, shall pronounce a sentence
of imprisonment for An indetermi-
nate term, stating the minimum
and maximum limits thereof, fix
ing as the minimum time the term
now or hereafter prescribed as the
minimum imprisonment for the
punishment of such offence; but if
there be no minimum time so pre-
scribed, the Court shall determine
the same, but it shall not exceed
one fourth of the maximum time,
and the maximum limit shall be
the maximum time now or here
after prescribed as a penalty for
such offense.
The Board of Inspectors of the
Eastern and Western Penitentiaries
shall meet once each month at
their respective penitentiary. At
each meeting of the Boards every
prisoner confined upon an inde-
terminate sentence, whose mini
mum term of sentence will expire
within three months, shall be given
an opportunity to appear before
the Board and apply for his or her
release on parole.
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
If it shall appear to either of the
Boards of Inspectors upon an ap-
plication by convict for release
on parole that there is reasonable
probability that such applicant will
live and remain at liberty without
violating the law, then the Board
shall recommend to the Govern
nor that such convict be released
on parole, subject to such rules
and regulations for such convict as
the Board may prescribe, until the
expiration of the maximum limit
of the sentence imposed, and shall
send to the Governor a report of |
such convict.
In committing the sentences of
convicts by releasing them on pa
role, the Governor shall annex a
condition to the effect that if any
convict so released shall, during
the period of parole, be convicted
OF any crime punishable by i'm
prisonment under the law of this
Commonwealth, such convict shall,
addition to the penalty imposed
Sor such crime, be compelled to
serve in the penitentiary the re-
nainder of the term without
commutation) which such convict
would have been compelled to
'erve but for the commutation of
sentence as provided for in this act.
AGAINST CHILD TEMpTERs.
Four bills concerning children
we're introduced by Representative
Alter of Allegheny. They were
prepared by the Juvenile Court AS
'ociation of Allegheny County.
One of the bills is aimed at any
'erson, firm or corporation that
knowingly permits minor to be
ent to disorderly house. The
'enalty is fine of $1,000 or one
ear in prison.
Another measure makes it mis-
lemeanor for any person who will
ully or negligently causes or con-
rioutes to the delinquency of
linor who is held to be delin-
inent child. The penalty is fine
( $1,000 or Imprisonment for one
ear.
A third bill extends the powers
fJuvenile { Courts, respecting the