Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-03

''N'N s'u i'nc W y -,V'' aSSOIlEN
lawbrcakcrs and criminals running at
large under your general supervision?
That is the job that belongs to
Charles d. Reid, secretary OF the Pris-
oner's Aid Association OF the State OF
aid association. 1t handles tho prob
lem OF the convict In its own way.
which Is by giving him his freedom
and taking his word OF honor for his
good behavior
Like most organizations that have a
clcan-out policy and personality Of
their own. the Prisoners Aid Associn-
ton ccnters around one man. That
man ia Charles -. Reid who is not
only secretary OF tho association, hut
also president of the advisory board OF
parole OF the state Of Maryland
MIR. Reid's two Offices give an idea
OF the way his work Is regarded by
the authorities. and the way he can
go about 1t, The prisoners aid organ
lHation grew out of an old society
whose original purpose was simply to
do what II could for discharged pris-
oners. IL started out by Offering them
temporary home and assistance in
hnding work. AS it's influence and i;s
efficiency became apparent the authnri-
TIES hogan to give il the task q! keen
ing an eye OH men who were ont under
suspended sentence on parole or on
proba ton, thus giving 1T Il chance TO
charged prisoner instead OF afterward.
lo-daE the association is Keeping truck
OF. 1000 men who are on their honor
and their good behavior. Practically
all OF them keep their promises.
Yields n Large Authority.
As president Of the parole board. Mr..
keid can select the men whom he
thinks vii! make good If they have a
chance. and recommends them for n
parole. Then I'm his other capacity as
very active secretary OF the prisoner :
aid organization. he Keeps n watch on
ms selections and sees that they stay
In the right road. The sA,ret OF bis
cooperation so smooth and complete
as that OF man who in one cupacIty-
co-operates with himself In another.
aos' or the men thus parol"d make
good. The parole system. properlv an
pied, can be great thing not only
Tor the convict. but for society Mr.
KeId points out feature of IL that is
prone to he overlooked. That is tho
great difference in attitude between tb.
man paroled and TIE man DISCHARGED
He is serving his first term. perhaps.
and is within a few weeks or months
Of the end OF II. II he serves it out
to the last day. he leaves prison feel
ing that he owes nothing to society
He has paid the price for his wrong
doing-paid II In fu!l--and he probably
thinks little bit over. The books are
balanced, and the only thing tina,
operates to keep him straight is the
fear OF another senteIce-never very.
potent influence, as our full prisons
prove.
On the other hand, IL that same
man is Daroled II short time before
his sentence expires. the case has n
dinerent complexion He is put on his
honor. The law is making him a eff,
OF his freedom: he leaves the prison
under certain obligation to society.
II he has any sense OF duty or fair
ness-as plenty OF such men have
such course Is likely to touch it, And
society does this at comparatively lit
tie risk to itself, at an investment
practically negligible. The man is
due to be freed !r short time any
way. IT he comes out on the LIST OF
May or the LIST OF August Is minor
consideration. The important thing is
his attitude toward the law and the
community when he does come out
Organization Is Required.
Such a system. OF course. requires an
organization OF some sort TO keep
track OF the paroled men. and here Mr..
Reds Office Of secretary enters the
game. The Prisoners Aid Association
has small, but efficient. squad of pro-
bation oflcers-threc. TO be exact-and
when one OF their charges does not re-
-
secretary goes and looks him up.
Quite a different type OF the paroled
convict is the one which MI. Reid
speaks Of as the "exceptional' man.
He is the sort that Is not n criminal
type at all, but who has been forced
across the line Of the law by some
kink of circumstances. Keeping him
In prison IS a double loss to the COM
munity, because he probably has the
making Of n useful citizen, on the one
hand. and he certainly has the max
| ing Of dangerous one II the wrong
| influences work too long.
| Such case was that OF trained
technical man. who forged n S. check
| while he was exceedingly hard M
| against the account of man who
| owed him money. The act, OF course
| was criminal, and the prison sentence
| perfectly just: but that the man him
| self was not criminal Mr.. Reid has
proved by getting him paroled. lie is
| now earning $1,000 n year I'm com
| munity where his record is not known
| and leading a model life. Meanwhile
| to see that he does not abuse his priv
ileges.
| Such cases are, Of course. In the
| minority. Mr.. Reid Ia a highly prac.
| tical person. and does not expect IL
make ailk purses out OF sow's ears
| good many of the people with whom
| he has to deal arc detectives, weak.
| lings. misfits generally. If they car
| succeed In scraping mp nm honest liv-
\ ing, however humble. tho aanocia ior
| IS more than repaid for occasiona
backsilders.
The parolcd men do not belong &c
the most tractablc class OF society
| and occasionally show savage rebel
lion against the system Of supervision