Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-05-05
STATE BOARD RELEASES MANY
PRISONERS DURING PAST
THREE MONTHS.
ALL PLACED WITH
APPROVED EMPLOYERS
Assured Of Work Before Being Given
Conditional Liberty--Effort Made to
Remove Men From Old Environ.
ments and Observation-Disclosures
to Keep History Of Paroles Secret.

Des Moines May 5.--There have
been released on parole by the board
of parole from the penitentiary at Fort
Madison and the reformatory at Ana
mosa a total of 1879 prisoners since
Jan. 1, 1915. according to figures
given out today by Sam D. Woods,
secretary of the board. Every one of
these men have been placed with en-
ployers who have guaranteed in writ
ing that work will be provided for a
period of from six months to year
and the wages received are the ordi-
nary wages which would be paid for
labor in similar lines of work.
In addition to the men released from
the prisons. the board has paroled
eighteen men before commitment on
recommendations from judges and
county attorneys. after conviction. of
offenses. and being sentenced to one
or the other OF the prisons. In eleven
of these eighteen cases the judges
would have been authorized under the
statute to parole from the bench with
cut any recommendation TO the board
of parole, but owing to the fact that
the latter is in touch with great
many employers ever the state. has
better facilities for finding employ
ment and can give close supervision
recommendations were made for the
board TO parole and take over full
supervision.
Very recently three young men were
convicted in one of the counties of the
state who had been living in the same
town and associating together. Recon-
menda,ions were made for their parole
before commitment and after such
action was taken by the board of
parole il was urged by friends Of the
prisoners that they be placed at work
where they would be unable to further
associate together. The hoard was
BILE to find each one Of the team work
with different employers far removed
from each other all of whom have had
paroled men heretofore and are known
TO ne interested in lending encourage
ment TO such employees. These en-
ployers are only three OF the numer-
Gus ones that are over. the state VINO
are interested In Lending their aid in
an effort to rehahilitate the men who
are released OF parole from the
prisons.
Method Of Procedure.
Nher a prisoner 10 TO be released on
parole the prospective prisoner as ap-
pealed to by the board. The history OF
the prisoner offered for employment Is
given to the employer fully. When
the parolee' arrives at his place OF EN-
ployrnent he does SO without having 10
answer any embarrassing questions as
To his history. II requested the en-
ployer agrees TO keep the facts IN
known that his euploye has come out
of the prison and in this way the
latter starts out without any handi-
cap. so far as knowledge Of his past
is concerned. in his effort to rehabiii-
tate himself.
The releasing of men on parole Is
simply a recognition OF the fact thal
they mus, eventually go out into
society. either as an asset or other-
wise. and that outside. instead OF IN
side the walls must come the real test
Of an earnest desire to make soon,
said Secretary Woods today in dis
cussing the parole system The state
can well afford to lend every aid pos
sIble to encourage them III becoming
good citizens.
"Of course to apply the parole sys-
tenn to every prisoner without reier-
ence to tie sort of man he has neen
or is would only be disastrous to the
best interests OF the state. But when
there is reasonable hope that a man
will go out and make good the board
of pa role is the states instrument TO
order his release. place him in the
hest environment possible. lend to him
aid. and then it is with the citizenship
of the state in the capacity OF en-
pIoyer or best friend to lend the per-
sonal touch and brotherly encourage
ment SO essential in his effort for re-