The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-12-27
PARDON BOARD
MAKES REPORT
MANY PRISONERS ON PAROLE.
Summary of Report Made to Cover
nor.


by the Advisory Board in the Matter
of Pardons from Jan. 1, 1911, to Dec.
/, 1912, 1912.
Total number of paroles granted,
9s7.
Number of men released on parole,
967.
Number of women released on
parole, 20.
Percentage of paroles granted to
number of cases considered, $3.50.
Total number of prisoners now on
parole, 452.
Total number of parole violators,
1873.
Percentage of parole violators to
number of paroled prisoners, 1879.
Number of parole violators re-
turned to prison, 90.
Number of parole violators whose
whereabouts is unknown, 92.
Number of parole violators known
to be serving sentences in other
prisons, s.
Number of paroled prisoners who
violated parole by commission of
felony, 81.
Percentage of felony violators to
total number of parole violators, 2O%.
Average length of parole period,
13 months, 1s days.
Average time served in excess OF
minimum sentence, 6 months, 12 days.
Avehge time served under maxi
mum recommended by the Court, 5
months, days.
Number of prisoners released by
Governor on recommendation of
Pardon Board, so.
Number of prisoners recommended
for release by Pardon Board and de-
MED by Governor, 80.
Expenses This Year Less Than Last.
According to figures included in the
report to the Governor of the Ad-
visory Board in the Matter of Par
dons, which has just been issued, it
appears that in the last twenty-three
months nine hundred and eighty
seven prisoners have been paroled in
Michigan by that Board, and Of this
number only one hundred and eighty
eight have violated the conditions of
their parole. This means that out of
the total number of prisoners par
oiled by the present Board, but nine
teen per cent have broken their
parole; and this is six per cent lower
than the record of the Pardon Board
during the two years previous to this
administration. Incidentally, it is six
per cent lower than most of those in
authority thought could be attained
as the wardens of the prisons and
members of other Boards have fire.
quently insisted that no matter how
few or how many prisoners were
paroled, there would always be as
many as twenty-five per cent who
would fail to make good.
Other figures of the report are
equally interesting. 1t is shown that
out of the f8S prisoners who have
broken their paroles, but 90 have
so far been returned to prison.
Ninety-two have up to the present
time succeeded in evading the clutches
of the law, so far as is known by
the Michigan authorities; while five
are known to be serving sentences in
other prisons. The closeness with
which paroled prisoners are watched,
is shown by the fact that of the full
number who broke the conditions of
their releases, but 2O9o were guilty
of committing new crimes, while the
remaining 500 have had warrants
issued for their re-arrest because they
have failed to live up to the require
ments imposed by the Board.
The Indeterminate Sentence Law
provides that in sentencing prisoner
the Trial Judge shall give him max
imum sentence which is fixed by
statute; shall give him a minimum
sentence that cannot be less than
six months and cannot be more than
half the maximum; and that he shall
also recommend what in his judg-
ment is a reasonable maximum. The
Pardon Board cannot act on case
until the prisoner has served his
minimum sentence. Their report