The Washington times., 1910-01-28
HOW A JUDGE ON THE BENCH
WOULD SAVE 3,O35.

Justice Gould puts the ball over the
plate. His interview IN yesterdays
issue % this newspaper was notable
for more than practical knowledge OF
our present penal diseredit in the Dis
trict OF Columbia 1t revealed
breadth of humane interest and an &C
tive sympathy for the current effort
at improvement which makes the entire
community his debtor
We are beginning 10 realize that
the sentences Imposed by the courts
DO not have the desired cOrrectlEe
force, and that there are. thousands
Of -'first-ofTenders' 10 whom the op-
porrunIty OF probation and parole
should be extended II we would re-
claim them 20 society me purpose
OF the law IN such cases IS not SO
much TO punish as TO correct tx
perienCe has told Us that correcJlOn
Is rarely possible inside o prison
walls; consequently II should be at
tempted outside these institutions IN
the form of suspended sentence
This conclusion Is based upon TWEEN
ty years Of experience IN our courts
As District Attorney, Judge Gould had
abundant opportunity to view the sub
Jet in the light of all possible danger
TO the people through probation and
parole. As a member of our District
Supreme Court he has had abundant
opportunity to learn how nearly futile
NAV be the mere imposition of sen
fences of Imprisonment Says he:
The deeper question involved Is
whether the first offender. the man OF
To
pulse 20 break the law is worth saw
ing 10 society For my part think
they are I have seen many fallen
men and women restored 70 good ciJl-
zenshiD under the proper influence.
and I VIII go on believing that such
restoration is possible
A judge on the bench must see the
wisdom OF dineren tIatiuE between the
confirmed criminal and the beginner
in crime While I believe that the
first class should be put out Of the
Of course, means sentenced 20 terms
that MT their crimes also believe
as strongly that we may be reason
ably certain OF saving the second
class II we employ. the corrective
method OF suspended sentence
This second class-beginners IN crime
is not unimDortant TO society. Nine
tsnths Of the confirmed criminals are
recruited from its ranks. IF the first
offenders can be saved, the problem as
70 the incorrigibles Is half solved.
Furthermore the number Of first Of
tenders in the District Of Columbia is
enormous
Some 1920 persons are convicted IN
Sw Police Courts every year. OF these,
Il Is believed 5000 are first offenders.
TIE proportion Of those convicted IN
the higher court Is given as thirty-fve-
Suppose one out Of ten Of these 3,035
Of Our fellows could be made good citi-
Ssnsi According to the fruits OF adult
probation and parole IN other jurisdic-
lions, that one out Of ten can be re-
enforced and eight Of the other. nine as
well
One consideration further Justice
Gould commands a cause rather than
q bill Every citizen alive TO the value
Of the proposed legislation should take
the same attitude. There can be no
pride Of authorship in the legislation.
What Is needed Is the rest bill that can
be drawn That matter Is now I'D TO
the House Committee on Judiciary and
II is to be hoped It may be able TO
report a bill according TO its standards
without delaying the relief beyond the
reach OF this years 3,035.