The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-01-21
Makes Suggestions as to Pris-
on Conditions and Needs
ADVOCATE PAROLE SYSTEM
A Good Parole Law Would lie an
indispensable Aid in the Re
formation of the Criminal

M report Of Warden T.. p. Sale to
the superintendent n board of di-
rectors Of the States prison has been
printed with other reports and is
ready for distribution.
The warden's report deals largely
with prison discipline. the problem Of
discharged prisoners, health and sani-
tatiOn, diet Of the prisoners, women
prisoners, the criminal insane, prison
library, repairs and improvements at
h prison, prisoners and prison life.
The report is interesting and should
be widely read by the people Of the
State.
There we're, on December 81, 1912,
SOC prisoners in the central prison. on
the farm and railroad camps, a gain
OF 81 over the previous year
During the years 1911-12 there
we're eleven persons electrocuted at
the prison, nine colored n two
white.
While the whole report Is impOr-
tant, the most important part is War
den Sales recommendations. Prob
ably no man in the State knows as
much about the management and dis
cipline Of prisoners as Mr.. Sale, he
having attended all the national meet
ihgS OF prison wardens since he has
been connected with the States
prison. A year or two ago he at
tended an international meeting OF
prison wardens, where he heard dis
cussed the methods employed by
other countries in the government Of
prisons. Therefore, Mr.. Sales recon-
mandafiono Shn1l1d hava mlIch WoiOhf
and they are printed in full. as fol-
lows:
Recommendations.
Having made a careful study of
prison conditions n prison needs, !
am Offering a few suggestions that if
enacted into Law would be Of material
ene1t to prisoners as we'll as prison
management and along lines that
have been followed by other similar
institutions with good results. I be-
lieve there Is great necessity for the
enactment OF some laws and amend
ment of the present ones that would
give modern prison management ar
opportunity to offer reformation tC
those under their care, and If possible
return them to society with such in.
clination and ideas as will enable them
to become good law-abiding citizens
II the Legislature would adopt a goOl
parole law with the undetermined
sentence 1t would be Of great value IL
determining what good there is in tn.
criminal. The parole law is an in,
dispensable aid to the reformation o.
III prisoner and should be given IL
accordance with definite rules. 4
prisoner should be eligible to releas'
after serving q definite minimum pc
riod, conditional to good behavior
constituted SO as to avoid outside in
fiuence. say n member Of the nag
istracy, member OF the prisOl
management, n member Of medica
science, and perhaps two others ap
pointed by the governor with h con
sent Of the Senate. or elected by tn
prison board to whom all matter
rected. In determinate sentenc
should apply to mental and moral de
fectives who require reformation an
whose ofenses are due mainly to cir
cumstances Of an individual natur.
The indeterminate sentence is a mini
tended to satisfy the demands Of SO
ciety without the maximum. TIL
prisoner himself fixes the maximum
according to the progress he is abb
to make In morals. and industr,
much depends upon his attitude tOwar
society and his capacity to earn a liz
ing after serving the minimum ser
tence. These laws are in force in
great many Of the states, have worke
well. and ne hope and ~opportunit
TO those who by force Of circun
stances are convicted OF crime, ar
especially doe first offenders HAY
Heed for UGH a law. The tendene
of modern thought Is toward reforms
ton In all matters, and legislative Ell
actment along these lines would civ
opportunity to development in prise
reform. The present law allOwin
communication Of time for good b.
haviOr should be amended SO as
compute the time allowance on
graduated scale commencing the de
thep risoner enters the prison. ALLOW
ing four days each month for Il
first yea to prisoners who have NJ