The Big Sandy news., 1913-07-04
KENIUCKYPR|SONS
Changed From Penal to Re-
fOTmatOTy System.
Report Of the Work Being Done to Re-
form the UnfOTtunates who are
Sent to State Prison.


Association at Olympian Springs the
committee assigned to the editor OF
this paper the delivery of an ad-
dress ON The Change of Kentucky
Prison System from Penal to Re
formatory, he being a member OF
the Board Of Prison Commissioners.
The other members of the Board are
Daniel O'Sullivan and Henry R.
Lawrence. The interest in Prison
Reform is wide spread and increas-
ing, and with the hope of giving
some information concerning an i'm
portant matter Mr.. Conley's paper
is published in the NEWS. 1t was
read at the Olympian meeting and
has been published in other news
papers in the State.
The following reforms have been
Instituted by the present Board Of
Prison Commissioners:
The whipping of prisoners abso-
luteIy abolished
The Frankfort prison changed to
. reformatory.
Fifty Thousand dollars year paid
e. prisoners out Of their earnings.
Night schools established in the
prison, with 1000 pupils.
Prison guards dismissed for being
under the influence of liquor on or
or duty.
All diseased prisoners sequestrat-
ed and given special medical atten-
tion.
Tuberculosis prisoners to be plac-
Ell in hospitals where they can
have every card
All prison employees prevented
from contributing TO campaign
funds, or Interfering in elections.
Close supervision Of parpled pris-
oners.
Suit filed TO stop speculation in
prison labor
The Change Of Kentucky Prison Sys-
tenn from Penal to Reformatory.
The first important step taken to-
ward changing the prison system in
Kentucky was the enactment of the
parole law. 1t seems to be gener-
ally agreed that the parole law, care
fully and conscientiously administer
ed, is one of-the greatest forces yet
found for guarding the conduct and
changing the lives of those who get
into State prisons. Every prisoner
realizes that he has several chanc-
es for parole where he would have
one for pardon. A parole has been
construed to be only suspended
sentence, and the incompleted por-
ton of a term may therefore be
held over a weak or vicious man for
the remainder of his life. Or, i'll
his conduct outside for a year or
more seems to justify a complete
discharge it may be given him. In
prison the law operates to secure
obedience to the rules because no
man is eligible to parole who has
broken any prison rule within nine
months previous to the time OF maxi
ing application. In thus living un-
der discipline he acquires new hab-
its Of thought and action, which
must necessarily influence his fu-
ture. And after being paroled the
restrictions keep him constantly re-
minded that he cannot afford to be
law breaker.
Paroled men must report once a |
month by letter. Failure to do so
is violation of the parole. and the
list is checked up each month and
all delinquent cases investigated.
The breaking of any law is a VIOLA
tion of parole. as also is the drink
ing of intoxicants;and this restraint
is great help to the unfortunates
who are too weak to voluntarily re-
sist the thirst for liquor. Only about
fifteen out of total of $500 men
now out on parole have been re-
turned to prison during the past
year. oo4uC LdcF6 =" VI Q AO"saN W nv
enemies made false reports, expect
ing the men to be taken back to
prison without further question.
They have been disappointed. One
case was where paroled man had
engaged in the merchandising busi-
ness and his trade gradually increas-
ed until competitor began to feel
the effects and reported to the com
mission that the man was drinking.
The parole agent made a personal
as he does in all cases
except where reports come from
court officials, and learned that the
report was false. He exonerated and
the man and encouraged
him 10 continue his correct life,
promising protection as long as be
lid so.
Parole Law Very BencfI-Ial.
Tho indetermlnate sentence law,
passed in 1910. helps greatly IN i