The mirror., 1915-02-25
>. EDI TOR Al ..
PRISONERS AID SOCIETY

PRISONERS AID SOCIETY
In the second biennial report of the state board
of parole to the state legislature, find something
about the Prisoners Aid society that is very COM
mendable to say the least:
In the month of January, 1912. the board of
parole determined to attempt the organization of
Prisoners Aid socety, covering every county in
the state of Minnesota and having at least as many
members as there were paroled men.
The object of the organization to secure a
select body of citizens in various walks of ife
who would act as friend and adviser to one man
who had been released and was still under the
guardianship of the state.
The adviser is informed of the name and occu-
patton of the man. the man is informed who his
adviser is When work is secured for man on
parole every employer is informed of status of the
man. The relation of the adviser with the re-
leased man is confidential, and is known to no one
in the community except to the employer.
1t thought by some of those in consulta-
ton at the beginning that would be very difficult
to obtain enough advisers. AS matter of fact
we have secured throughout the state no less than
1872. Of these 176 are actively engaged and
in communication with 1872 men who have been re-
leased parole from the prison and the reforma-
tory. The high grade of men who have been Sc
cured for the Prisoners Aid society, and the value
of their services is a distinct compliment to the
good citizenship of this commonwealth. In
localities we have more men than can easily
use. In other localities, however, we have found
it difficult TO secure sufficient number On the
the other hand number of the men are in the
mines or lumber camps or other remote parts of
the state, and practically the only adviser they
have is their employer, though the effort is to sep
arate the function of the advisor from that of the
employer, the idea being that there should be no
business or commercial element in the Prisoners
Aid society. There 81 released parole
who have advisers. Naturally in the localities
close to the institutions there is the largest
Der of our men at work, and consequently in those
localities it is more difficult to sufficient
sistance. This difficulty is offset by the fact that
the parole agents at the institutions are in easy
reach of these men. At the time, it is
equally important that the friendly adviser should
be in addition to the official.
In appointing advisors, the board has endeav-
Ored to come in contact with the paroled men both
on the sides OF race and religion, the effort being
to secure for each man an adviser of his own race
and processes the religious faith in which the
paroled man trained. This is not always pos
sible, and it is found that some nationaIities and
some religious bodies are not quite as anxious to
undertake this work as others. Should they come
to see that this double bond of race and religion
makes vital foundation for friendship the diff
Guilty would doubtless vanish.
When the state at large understands the great
value and at the same time time the simplicity of
the service it will not be difficult to secure a
friendly human fore yho boc in,
deed committed offenses against society, but who
wishes henceforward to Join the social body as a
valuable working unit
Sometimes the adviser visits the men, and some
times he invites the men to visit him. In some
cases friendly word spoken at the right moment
will save man from going wrong. The work of
this society is commended to those who wish to
perform a real charity, remembering that what
most people need is not aims but friend''
TIE MIICIC OE VCcTEDDAv