Little Falls herald., 1914-02-13
TIIE PAROLE SYSTEM
4 %s:5s IS st. Paul. Feb. 6. 1914.

X Fa1rmOnt tSentlnel, ${$s 3fg$ 81 ~ 4|
Fairmont, Minnesota. ,;ss.
Dear Mr.. Day:
have read the account of an inter
view with Judge James III. Quinn in re-
gard to the parole system, published in
the Sentinel of February 2. Judge
Quinn's reputation as a jurist and citizen
is so high that statements made by him
deserve respectful consideration. At the
same time feel constrained to differ
very decidedly from some of his views.
The proposition to provide an attorney
for imprisoned men, which seems absurd
tion of Thoughtful students of criminology
all over this country, and in the brief
time it has been under consideration has
been much commended. The State should
not employ a lawyer to discover techni-
calities, but to help prisoners with intel
.igent advice and, where the situation
that develops warrants it, to aid the
prisoner in presenting his claims to the
Board of Parole, the Board of Pardons,
or the Court. Many prisoners who
are absolutely precluded, from procuring
it on account Of lack of means. It seems
to me that it ought to be as truly
function Of the State to redress the
him to prison in the first place.
The assumption that all trials are pro-
perly conducted and that every man sent
to prison has received all the protection
prosecuting officers and juries are by no
means infallible and have the privilege
OF making mistakes, like other folks.
The writer had to do lately with case
where man spent many years in prison
for a crime of which there is scarcely a
doubt he is innocent. That such a thing
may occur and did occur, surely gives
food for thought.
Judge Quinn believes the prisoner
fore the Board of Parole; preferably an
attorney. Who is to pay the attorney?
The State? Under the indeterminate
sentence law every man sentenced under
it may come in due time before the
select an attorney? In most cases the
prisoner could not because he could not
pay. The suggestion is impractical.
Evidently Judge Quinn is not aware of
has not been informed that a most care
full search is made into the history and
career of the man who appears before it,
and that the Board generally has know
come out at the trial. Our system of
getting information as to the lives of
inmates at the Prison and the Reforma-
tory is thorough, and we think it unsur-
passed by any other state.
The statement that the mans applica-
ton comes before the Board of Parole
with no recommendations or represen-
tations from any citizen, is incorrect.
There are very few cases in which there
are not on file letters from relatives,
friends, officials, and others, favorable
or unfavorable, and often the record is
voluminous one. The prisoner is al
ways asked to give a list of names of
people who can give information, and
Even a casual examination of the parole
calendar for any month, at either the
Prison or the Reformatory, will show
that every effort has been made to get
he xvSn of <ln oSfi yl1
man.
Where it is possible, the calendar also
includes the views of the trial judge and
the county attorney. I say where it is
that the trial judge shall give his i'm
pressions as to the mental and physical
condition of the man he sentences, gen
eral character, capacity, disposition,
habits, and special needs, which state
ment must be attached to the commit
means generally observed, although the
word shall is used in the law. If
there is anything the Board is pleased
to receive. it is the views of the trial
give those views. Some judges apparent
ly do not know of this provision, OF, ii
they do, may consider it unconstitutional
and not worth obeying. We ssnould be
! the Prison and the Reformatory and ac-
quaint themselves with parole methods.
Not many do so. Those who have, en-
courage us by approving what has been
DONE 49,
So far as petitions are concerned, this
rule of the Board may be enlightening:
''The law does not prohibit the
Board from receiving and considering
petitions urging parole or release,
but for convenience in the dispatch
of business and in the interest of
uniform justice, arguments and petit
tions favoring or opposing a parole
or discharge from persons not otrf-
cal1y connected with the prison or
reformatory, will not be taken into
account. It will be understood
however, that the Board will re-:
ceive and consider written state.
ments of facts which may properly
have an important bearing"
AS to appearing before the Board
while the Board does not as body make
practice of allowing people to appear
before it at meetings., hardly a day
passes that the members Of the Board
do not have talks with some relative or
friend of inmates desiring parole, and a
great deal of time is taken up in this
way.
There is much more that might be
! said, but the Board has no desire to en-
ter into controversy. and this is not
written in any such spirit, but simply as
matter of information.
Very truly yours,
CEAS. E. VASALY,
Chairman State Board of Parole