The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1916-10-12

Superintendent or others of his
staff and may take the form of
sunday School of church services
or of lectures or better yet of all
# them. There is no doubt that
,nis field of endeavor is a hopeful
cne and can be br ,ught to a sue
'essful harvest. Men to do this
work though, must be more than
preachers, they must not have for
gotten all their own faults and
, follies, must have good red blood
their veins. possess clear, clean
nd resourceful mind. sympathetic
! out not sentimental, gentle and
yet strong.
One of the changes that has
come about from a careful and
judicious management of this pris-
on is IN the matter of the Parole
Law. When first inaugurated the
Parole Agent simply awaited a
mans release and did not see or
know anything of the inmate until
that time. Then without knowing
anything of the MANS nature. his
training, his history or his inten-
tions, he found him employment
and assumed a supervision under
conditions that made his work un-
necessarily hard and ineffective.
The Parole Agent then worked for
two institutions. They did not
agree as to details and policies.
The Agent was supposed to reflect
the policies of both, which can at
once be seen to be impossible. 1t
was thought in those days, that the
Parole Agent should not know or
talk to a man until after his pa
role was authorised, and at the Re-
| formatory not until his actual
release. This has gradually
changed until now he is one of the
first that comes in contact with the
man upon his arrival, sees him,
tsi ks and advises with him as free
y or more so than any other off,
GER. Frequently investigates by
visits or correspondence bis family
or his Observation-Disclosures himself
with his Offense-reads the evil
dence submitted to the jury at his
trial-takes a complete and de-
tailed history of the mans past
life-corroborates or disproves
this by correspondence or other.
wlse-is in a position to know.
and, [ may be permitted to say.
does know, more about the mans
whole life than any other officer
about the prison. Possessing this
knowledge be can be of some as
sistance to the Warden in each
particular case.
The calendar made up each
month for the consideration of the
Board of Parole is made under bis
supervision. and in this he is re-
quired to give his impressions of
the mans character and general
make up, and is at liberty to state
therein his opinion Of his future.
He meets with the Board of Parole
and tries to be helpful to them in
their work. If a mans parole is
authorized, work of the right kind
must be provided, and when
found, an agreement is made with
the employer, and when all ar
rangementS are complete the man
is sent out. He then has a dual
duty of seeing that the man is
protected in his rights and also to
see that his conduct is as it should
be. Many of the inmates look up
on the Agent as their advisor and
he is called upon to give advice
upon all subjects.
His duties are considerably
more than that of a police officer.
From the very nature Of the case,
his relations are to quite an extent
of a confidential character. His
experiences are somewhat varied.
He meets smiles as we'll as tears;
is met with abuse and sometimes
with bullets. To make his work