The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-10-31
LoulslANA's PAROLE SYSTEM.
The Louisiana Board of Pardons, at

it's recent meeting, granted only one of
the score of applications made to it,
and through Attorney-general Pleasant
announced that it's attitude in regard
70 pardons to convicts in the penlten-
tiary would be considerably affected
by the new parole law, passed at the
last session of the Legislature. The
Pardon Board wants that law to be
thoroughly tested, and believes that
many cases formerly considered by it
should now 20 before the Board OF
Control of the penitentiary, which, with
the Governor, has the administration
land execution OF the new statute.
That law, Act No. 149 Of 1914, does
not fully carry out all the original sug-
gestions of the Prison Reform Associa-
lion, but it will, none the less, help to
improve the prison situation, and to
secure the release of many prisoners
who would probably be unable to Sc
cure full pardon. The parole is based
ON the new and proper conception OF
the relation of the state and the pris-
oner. 1t expresses no doubt as to his
quilt of the crime of which he stands
convicted, but it recognizes that his
IMPRISONMENT and encouragement is in
The interest and for the protection of
society. Whenever that interest will
De best subserved by his release, when
ever it is felt that he can be made
law-abiding and good citizen again, eX-
oerience warns us that nothing is to
De gained by keeping him in prison.
The new law requires that the Board
of Control of the penitentiary establish
rules and regulations for the paroling
OF convicts, subject to the approval Of
the Governor. These have just been
tcompleted and we shall probably in
the next few days have a number of
applications for release presented I'M
der them, the circulation of which will
better define the attitude of the Parole
Board (the Board of Control of the
state Penitentiary).
The new rules provide for the man.
ner in which applications far parole
may be made No argument will be
heard in behalf of any applicant nor
attorney allowed in any case. If parol-
ed the prisoner must report each month
where he is, what he is doing and how
he is faring, and must notify the
sheriff OF the parish where he is resid-
ing. In case any of the terms of the
parole are violated by him he is re-
turned to the penitentiary to serve out
his time In fine, the parole is neither
a discharge nor pardon, but merely
a permit to go outside of the peniten-
tiary on certain conditions. 1t Is not,
the Board of Control explains, intended
TO turn convicts out prOmiscuously or
to enable them easily to evade the
punishment, the courts have decreed.
1t must be earned. by good conduct,
faithful service and evidence of fixed
determination to become laW-abiding
citizen and to earn an honest living by
useful labor The law does not repeal
or change in any respect the laws now
in force governing pardons or the COM
mutation of sentence-New Orleans
Times-Picayune.
This paper is firm believer in a
parole system and rejoices that Louisi-
ana is to make test of it's efficacy in
: reforming men and opening the door
of hope to them, while at the same
time safeguarding society, as outlined
above We foresee that it will be used
; possibly for the release of convicts
that the courts have condemned to
life Imprisonment, but in such cases,
where release on parole has been earn
ed by special services to the state,
magnanimous persons will not deny
; them the privilege of freedom under
proper surveillance.
There will possibly be abuses of the
confidence Of the Parole Board-every
prison has it's Uriah Heeps-but on
this mere chance, one cannot close the
door of hope to men who want a larger
life than the penitentiary affords in
which to do better.
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