Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-14
ALL CONv|CTS HAVE
CHANCE FOR PAROLE.
UNDER STATE LAWS
PRISON REGULATIONS BECOMING
effective JULY NOW IN Op.
GRAFTON AT JOLIET - RIOT
RECORDS AID.

Under the new state law. which
became effective July /, straight
term prisoners in the Illinois State
Pehltentlary who have actually
served specified periods behind the
walls have become eligible to parole
William Colvin, superintendent of
pardons and paroles, is at present
nearing the first of the applicants
under this new law
Definite sentence men made elie.
ib'e to parole under the new law. hut
TWO restrictions have been named by
the board.
Flrst-They will be required to
serve the minimum sentence for thu
crime of which they have been con,
victed
Second-They will be required to
serve one-thrd of the sentence i'm
posed,
Must Report During Life.
IN the case of life termer being
admitted to parole he will be re-
CURED to make regular reports for
the remainder of his life unloss the
case shall later be taken up by the
pardon board and pardon granted
1t has also been provided as a safe.
guard to the state and those inter
ested in case that definite sentence
men who file applications to have
their cases taken up before the parole
board will be required TO advertise
the TACT in some paper in the county
in which their crime was committed
This will give fun public notice of
their efforts to gain their freedom on
parole and will admit OF the author
tiles, or others interested appearns
in opposition and filing their objec.
tions.
Under the old state law there were
four crimes for which no parole was
permissible-m murder, rape treason
and Kidnapping. However. the new
state law, effective on July /, admits
of parole, if in the opinion of the
board such clemency is deserved. |
However, the rule has been adopted |
with the new law becoming effective /.
that all paroles issued in such cases
shall be for the maximum time for
which the prisoner has been convict |
ed The parole may be recalled at |
any time for infractions. -
Pardon Board at Springfield.
Under the new consolidation act.
all meetings of the State Pardon
Board in the future will be held in
Springfield. In the past it had been
the custom of the old board to meet |
at Springfield then adjoV.n to Joliet
to hear the cases of inmates at the
state institution here. After this
work was completed an adjournment
was taken to Chester and eases at
the state institution located there
were taken up This practice was
followed for the convenience of
friends of the conyicts Under the
new law there will be no meetings
of the pardon board except at Spring
Held, and all persons who desire to
appear 10 urge clemency for some
'riend will be compelled to visit that
city.
The new law which admits life
-erm men to parole after twenty
years in prison. will effect a large
lumber of long term men in the pen
tentiary William Colvin. superin.
endent Of pardons and paroles, an
lounces there will be no haste, how
aver, in the taking up of these cases.
tach will be weighed carefully when
presented To The board and if elem.
9ncy is deserved it will be given But
t the crime is of particular helm
)us nature, or the prisoner has shown
little reformation during his term of
Incarceration, he likely will be com
)elled to serve his maximum sentence
which has been imposed.
Riot Records Will be Aid
At the closing session of the old
BOARD complete records Of all of the
men who performed good services
Turing the riots of June -, or who
we're active in the disturbance, were
made up. Complete statements were
lsked from officials concerning all of
he men who came under their no.
ice during the trouble These have
,een filed with the other records of
he prisoners. Special precautions
lave been taken for their preserva.
ion, Tor many years ii necessary. 4,
md they will be of material aid in
'eaching decision in cases as they
nay come up from time to time.