Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-24
Ispecial Correspondence

Washington, April 24.-EstaoilSh-
ment of a probation system in the dis
trict courts of the United States in line
with statutes in effect in many states
is proposed in bill which has been in
troduced in the senate by Senator
Owen. In the house the bill has been
introduced, by Congressman Hayden.
Sineularly enough, tho there are pro-
baton laws in forty-four states, In the
District of Columbia and in Alaska. the
United States does not have such
law. Congress has been remarkably
backward about the adopting OF the
probation system. altho the use OF some
form of probation has become such
necessity that the United States courts
have to some extent employed 1t In r.
regular fashion and without any pro-
vision of law for probation officers.
Senator Owen has lately presented 10
the senate a letter from Secretary
Charles L. Chute of the National FRO
baton Association. in which Mr.. Chute
saws the bill has the support Of the Ma
ItionaI Probation Association, the New
York state probation commission, many
United States district judges, United
States attorneys and others.
At times the subject has been up be-
fore congress and there has been oppo-
sition to IT. largely from old fashioned
statesmen who have the notion that
no consideration should be shown the
person so unfortunate as to be convict
ed Of crime.
For Youthful Offenders.
The probation system, while akin to
the parole system, is used especially
for young offenders and others not
hardened in vice or crime. 1t differs
from parole In that probation is re-
lease of defendants before commitment
while parole Is the conditional release
of prisoners after commitment but be-
fore they have served their full terms.
Mr.. Chute In his letter points out that
the report OF the attorney general for
the year ending June 80, 1915. shows
there were 13.477 convictions In the
United States district courts. The Of
lenses in many instances are not seri-
Gus and the offenders should be given
a chance to reform under the guidance
of probation officers. Many OF them
are young and first offenders or the
federal prisoners committed in the year
ending June 80. 1915. II per cent were
in prison for the first time: no less than
81 per cent were under 80 years OF age,
and of these 247 or 9. per cent OF the
total committed were boys under 20:
As per cent were married; SS.5 per cent
were white and Sis per cent were ma
tivee OF the United States. -.
Statistics Of New York, Massachus-
etts. Vermont and other states show the
probation system not only has had good
results on the Offenders but that 1t Is
great saving of money for the states.
II has been successfully used in nurner-
GUS other countries. Probation officers
aim to establish friendly relations with
persons In their charge and do what
ever Is needed to strengthen their
character and better their surround
ings. -..
Economic Advantages.
Mr.. Chute sets forth in striking fash
ion the economic advantages of pro-
baton. He says:
Probation has decided economic ad-
vantages. The average cost OF main
tanning a prisoner at the Atlanta penf-
Tertiary last year was $245.60. A study
in the state of New York during the
! year 1914 shows that the average per
capita cost for maintenance in state
penal institutions for the year was
$21a.s3., The average cost Of placing
an offender in charge of a salar:ed pro-
baton officer for one year in New York
state was $21.94. The method OF al
| lowing probationers to pay fines i'm
posed by the court in small weekly in
stallments out of money earned not
only increases the public revenue but
saves the cost of imprisonment SO.
also. the payment OF family support
mo1.ey collected thru the probation sys-
TEN is highly economical Keeping a
! man at work and requiring him 20 sup
| port his family may save the public
from supporting the entire family.
1 It is significant that the probation
system is steadily growing. The long
est experience with probation in this
country has been in Massachusetts,,
where the system. applied to both
4 adults and children. has been author
Lied by law since 1878. In the year
Iis16, no less than 70. $50 persons, chief
Ily adults. were put on probation In
Massachusetts. In New York. the same
year. 708 persons. about two-thirda
adults. were placed on probation. In
/ New York. over IS per cent OF the per-
4 SONS released from probation In the
year 1916 were reported by the proba-
ton officers as having completed their
terms and having been honorably dis
charged.