Evening star., 1922-11-27
D. .C.PENA[ SYSTEM
REV|S|0NS URGED
Senator Ball Offers Bill to
Create Parole Board of
District Residents.

Important changes In the penal sys-
tenn of the District of Columbia are
proposed in a bill introduced today by
Senator Ball. chairman OF the District
committee. The bill is drafted in ac-
cordance with recommendations made
by the National Commission on
Prisons and Prison Labor on the
penal system of the District of Co.
lumbia. which was submitted by
Louis Browniow. Justice Wendall P.
Stafford and John Joy Edison, the
penal commission for the District of
Columbia, on July IA. 1920, to Presi-
dent Wilson.
A board of indeterminate sentence
and parole is proposed by the bill.
This board would be composed of
three residents of the District. two
to be appointed by the District Com
missioners and one by the chief JUS
tice of the District of Columbia Su-
preme Court. No member of the
board could be connected in any other
way with penal institutions OF the
District. The members of the board
would receive salaries Of $1,000 a
year. The board would select three
parole officers. the chief of whom
$4,000 a year.
Maxlmum Sentences Urged.
After the enactment Of the proposed
law prisoners sentenced in courts Of
the District Of Columbia would have
the maximum sentence imposed upon
might be released on parole at any
time after conviction. if recommended
by the board Of indeterminate sentence
and parole. However. in cases Of con-
viction Of rape or assault with intent
to rape no provision is made for pa
role. and the prisoner would have to
serve the maximum sentence.
All prisoners would he taken first to
the DistrtSt jail and held there until
the board Should determine where they
should be sent to the best interests
Of the prisoner and the community.
workhouse. After the board should
make its recommendations the pris-
oners would be transferred or confined
either in the workhouse or the reforma-
tory. subject to the approval of the
District commissioners.
The United States Jail would be
used only to hold persons accused of
crime. persons in contempt of court
and persons held for the action of the
board of indeterminate sentence and
parole.
Would Remodel jail.
1t is proposed that 100000 shall be
appropriated to remodel the jail for
an examining station. where the pris-
oners could be examined before be-
ing passed upon by the board Of pa
role.
1t is provided that no prisoner shall
be released on parole until tho board
shall have satisfied itself that ade-
Quate arrangements have been made
for suitable employment after the pris-
oner is released. 1t is provided also
that industrial training shall be given
At the workhouse and reformatory
and that the prisoners shall engage
in some useful industries while serv-
ing their sentences. Provision is made
for the payment Of compensation for
this work, the money to 60 TO de-
pendents Of the prisoners while the
prisoners are in confinement, or 10
pay certain personal expenses Of the
prisoners and to 60 into savings ac-
counts for them.
It is proposed that 100000 shall b.
appropriated as rotating capital
fund for the purchase Of raw mate
rials to be used in the prison industry
and for the payment Of compensation
to the prisoners,