The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-04-28
THE PRACTICAL BENE-
FITS or PROBATION
Saving in Manhood and Dollars to the
State Of Vermont

I AANtuE ~ M0Nhuuu ana AFNiiaFN 20 tNt
State Of Vermont
The biennial report Of 1920 of the
Board Of Charities and Probation.
pages s and 9. show that on July l.
1918 the department had under its
supervision from the various courts
and prisons. a total Of 572 persons.
July /, 1919, there were 4S6, July /,
1920, 674, March /, 1921, 726 There
was gain Of So cases from July /,
1920, TO March / 1921 or the 674
cases June 80. 1920, AGO were proba-
TONERS from the courts under sentence
to the State Prison and House Of Cor
rection and PA were parolers from
the State Prison and House Of Correc-
tion--that is, persons who had served
at least a portion Of their prison sem
tence. The increase for the past few
months has come about owing TO the
industrial depression which now ex-
lists. A paroler is one who has been
released from the prison on a condi-
tional pardon. A probationer is one
who has been found guilty Of crime
and released on probation on such
conditions as the court may prescribe.
The biennial report Of the Director
Of State Institutions shows that the
net weekly cost of maintenance Of the
inmates Of the States Prison and
House Of Correction TO be S4.61 per
week per inmate. II the 243 parolers
under the supervision Of the Board
had been continued in prisons TO which
they had been sentenced the weekly
expense would be S1,120.20, or $685.
251.96 annually. This has to do only
with those who are released from the
prisons upon parole and there are
more persons upon parole than the
total number now in the prison and
House Of Correction.
Now take up the 483 probationers in
order to understand the financial saw
ing TO the State, leaving out Of ronsid-
GRAFTON all other expense. or all Of
these 483 probationers a little more
than 400 are under sentence to the
State Prison and House Of Correction
and around rs juvenile delinquents are
under sentence TO TIE StRte lndus-
trial School. None 81 @saZa l .Eg-
ei any time but must 90 TO the in
stitutions unless, under the supervi-
sion Of this department, they are able
to make good on the outside. The cost
Of maintenance at Vergennes does not
materially differ from that at the
prisons, so that the entire body Of
probationers might properly be charg-
ed at the same weekly expense, name
ly S4.6l or total weekly expense Of
S2,22663, or at he rate of $l15,7S4.-
76. Without adding to this the $751;
216.96 annually saved on the care Of
parolers, which would have brought
the grand total up to S174,03672.
During the month Of December the
Board Of Charities and Probation sent
out to their probationers and parolers
an inquiry slip covering the question
Of employment and wages being earn
ed. They received a definite state
ment from SO women which indicated
that the average weekly wage was
$9.45. In many Of these cases the
wages stated did not include board
and room, which was furnished with
their employment and which would
have materially and properly increas-
ed their earnings. Three hundred and
two men reported an average weekly
wage Of s25.32, which would give an
annual earning ability Of these 36l Of
a little more than s467000.
II tie Juvenile delinquents had been
sent directly to Vergennes instead OF
being placed under our supervision,
the present Legislature would have
been called upon for an appropriation
sufficient to construct enough new
buildings for their accommodation
and an additional maintenance cost Of
more tlan $4,000 annually, and IL
the more than 400 probationers had
been sent TO Windsor on the sentence
which they are now under, it can
readily be seen what a tremendousi
building program would be necessary
and the very large additional appro-
pr stion that would be required for
their maintenance.
This tremendous saving and SER
vice 70 the man, 70 the family, TO the
State costs about $4,000 annually.
Equal and exact justice has been
the passionate demand Of the human
soul silce man has wronged his fel-
low man; It has been the dream q the
philosopher. the aim of the lawgiver,
the endeavor u the judge, the ultim-
ale test Of every government and
every civilization" The words IRE
Z csc q Chief Justice Wintlow q the