The mirror., 1916-10-12
The Parole Agents Work
DUTIES OF THAT OFFICIAL
CONNECT WITH THIS
INSrI rU rION
Continued from first Page

OtDel. ne FORMER Is, OF course, the ou-
peror Officer, is SO recognized and his
authority is supreme, yet | am happy to
state that at the Prison we feel that we art
working with the Warden rather than fo'
him and with that feeling one never has the
least doubt but that he will be supported
in any position his experience and judg-
ment prompts him to assume.
The Executive Officer or the Parole De-
partment of any institution that lodges its
responsibility simply because the inmate is
likely to make him trouble, will be a fail.
ure. The inmate on parole must be dealt
with a firm hand and should be returned
without hesitancy if it is for his interest to
be returned, notwithstanding the fact that
he may after his return he inclined to make
trouble. The proper attitude for these OF
icers to assume is not that they are assum-
ing grave responsibility, but rather tina,
they are taking advantage of an opportunity
to endeavor, at least, to bring the inmate
| TO right attitude and light way of living.
To aid in his work, the Board of Parole
have formed Prisoners Aid Society with
headquarters in St. Paul. Its Secretary is
! Informed as these men go out, to whom
they go, their post-office address, and other
Information, and she then appoints an ad
visor or friendly visitor for the man. This
person has no duty except as an advisor al
though some authority in some few cases
may be given.
The work or our department is so well
understood heie in Minnesota that a more
detailed account of it seems hardly neces-
| sary. 1t is, of course, known that all prisoners
are now sent to the prison under the ipde-
terminate sentence, which of course implies
l releace on parole. l may say that under
the Parole Officer and Parole Department,
occupy much more important position III
the work OF an institution than heretofore,
and my conclusions are that it is the per-
Sonal contact with these men that counts.
Probation before commitment is the lat
est and, in my judgement, one of the mos,
important steps that have been taken in re-
cent years Probation is the helping hanI
offered to man upon the brink of his down
tall. Parole is the hand stretched odt to
MIN after he is in the ditch.
This matter of personal contact with the
prisoners and his family is the peculiar
privilege accorded a Parole Officer in this
Prison, and in that respect he has greater
| privileges than any other officer about the
prison. To him are disclosed facts that
others know nothing of. He sees in their
homes and associations, in their places OF
employment, in their amuSements and in
their daily life both in and out of prison
conditions that others do not see. To him
are confded secrets too sacred to repeat or
record. The prisoner, as we'll as his family
and friends, also his enemies, pour into the
ear of the Parole Agent their different tales
Most prisoners will, when interviewed,
| ne evaSive and more or less untruthful
They are apt to tell only that which they
think will work to their advantage. They
| magnify their virtues and minimize their
vices. Tney are apt to clothe themselves
With mantle of mystery leaving you much
to infer. From such it is difficult to get
| the real history and facts of their lives.
What we know of them must be gained
largely from Others. Those who will be
frank, honest, truthful and above board
are somewhat rare. The histories of all
must be corroborated and proven. AS the
duty of gaining such information devolves
upon the Parole Agent, he must, therefore,
gather such from whatever source possible.
Gathering such when the subject is resi-
ient of the state presents no great difficulty
for from local authorities, mis- neghbors,
his parents, brothers and sisters, his wife,
or even the prattle of his children, such in
formation comes.
Many of the inmates of our prison are
non-residents and getting their history is
more difficult. People to whom we write
are apt not to realize the importance of our
inquiry. They are quite apt too, to answer
on the theory of saying nothing unless it is
commendable. They are too careful not
to ''knock." We ge, many replies to in
quiries that are so paIpably at variance
| with the known character and history of
the man as to lessen or destroy their value.
From all sources, the information must be
gathered, and, as near as possible, true
estimate made of the man by the Board of
Parole and Parole Agent.
The work of the Parole Agent has only
just begun when the man is paroed. Be-
fore he can be released, employment must
oe found for him. This must be of the
proper kind and he must live under the
right conditions. Merely job is not suffi-
| Gent. His old friends and associates are
likely to be active but not helpful. HIS
real friends may be total strangers. Proper
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