The mirror., 1916-10-12
precluded these things being made as
frequently as we desired.

worked to shorten or lengthen the actual
| imprisonment of men committed here.
This is best answered by comparison of
he last fifty cases committed under the old
Jaw and the first fifty cases under the new
law for two statutory offences as follows:
Grand Larceny, second degree, maxi
mum penalty nve years.
Total time served before indeterminate
sentence, 6S yrs. E mos. days 50 cases.
Total time served on indeterminate SEN
tsnce, 1856 yrs. mos. 81 days. SO cases.
Average time served before indeterminate
sentences l yr. mos. l3 days.
Average time served on indeterminate
sentence 2 yrs. s mos. y days.
Assault in second degree, maximum PEN
atty five years.
Total time served before indeterminate
sentence, 79 yrs. = mos. day. SO cases.
Total time served ON indeterminate sem
tence, l2O yrs. II mos. % days. 50 cas,s
Average time served before ind determinate
sentence, l yr. mos. days.
sentence, 2 yrs. mos. days.
We cannot make comparisons of cases
With maximum penalty of ten years for
ne reason that many of these men are still
IN confinement. | am sure that such cases
Will show an even longer prolonga,ion of
sentence under the new law. This answers
effectively the arguments and statements of
the mis-informed that the indeterminate sem
tence law was only scheme 10 shorten the
confinement for those convicted of crime.
1t probably shortens the Confinement OF the
nrst term men without bad previous records
who really want to improve, and lengthens
he confinement of the repeater or those
With bad record or who show vicious
character.
Another question frequently asked US is
the effect of the County Option law on the
lumber committed here.
This law has not been in operation long
enough to answer the question with any
accuracy. l will only Cite figures from
Two counties where this law is in operation.
From Polk County, containing the cities o.
Crookston and East Grand Forks. we re-
celved for the year ending July 3lst, 1915,
Is prisoners, while for the year ending July
5lst, 1916 we received prisoners. From
Clay County with Moorhesd and Barnes
vile as its principle cities we received tor
the year ending July 3lst 1915, l6 and
for the year ending July 3lst, 1915, pris-
oners. In the whole state we had for the
year ending July 3lst 1915, 424 prisoners
committed while for the year ending July
5lst. 1916, 35S were committed.
No attempt has been made to analyze
these figures to show whether these differ
ences are or are not entirely the result of the
operation of this law, but to me these figures
are significant and suggest to my mind the
question of whether our prison need be en-
Iarged If prohibition was effective over the
entire state.
The law by which men are compensated
while in confinement works out to the grea,
advantage of men, especially TO those with
depending families. My hope is that this
compensation may be increased. The large
net earnings of the prison that are now
turned into the State Treasury are pointed
to with pride, but it would be source of
more pride to me if we could point to
much larger total of prisoners earnings
being paid to the dependent and suffering
families of those in confinement.
The cases of extreme want of dependent
families are now relieved by the payment
of special monthly allowance, but in my
judgment if such could be cared for by
payment of earnings of the man himself,
pride of some very needy and worthy cases
bars them from making the application.
Some are very reluctant to submit to the
necessary investigation and more reluctant
to accept anything that savors of a gratuity
out would not hesitate to accept money if |
paid to them out of the mans earnings. |
This special state aid referred to above is
paid only after very careful investigation |
of the worthiness and needs of the applicants
by this department. In sixteen cases thus
investigated we recommended that no special
state aid be paid, which recommendation |
was approved by the State Board of Control |
The total number of cases of dependent
families aided during the past two years
was one hundred and one and the total |
amount paid out for the two years ending |
July 3lst. 1916, was $17, ,o97.6 90.
From what l have written it may be in
ferred that our Correctional institutions are |
but hospitals for the morally diseased. Some
have said that they are but quarantine
stations, and this is true in some cases. For |
men addicted to the drug or liquor habit, |
they protect him from his own weakness |
IN their use We often hear it said that |
these men should be confined for the pro-
lection Society. May we not with equal |