Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-07
E. M. HACKNEY
On the Probation system

TROWING out of the Ellis and Ginsbcrc
~ drug eases. the probation department of
the Quarter Sessions Court in conjunction
with Judge Monaghan, will perfect n sys-
TEN whereby paroles in future will be heard
in open court. according to T.. NJ. Hackney,
chief probation officer of that court
''In holding these open hearings" said
Chief Hackney. 'duc notice will be given TO
all parties concerned and the hearings will
be open to all who desire to attend them.
The prison inspectors will recommend to me
mcritorious and worthy cases, especially
those of men who have no friends, aS often
happens with those who come from distant
cities or States.
'Thcsc cases will be submitted from time
to time. and if after thorough invcStign-
tiOn. in my Judgment. there seems to be red
son for such parole action, all the parties
interested will be 80 Informed. The District
Attorney will be notified that paroles will
be heard on II certain day SGT aside for that
purpose by the Board of Judges. and every
effort will be made to do the right thing
in each case.
Drugs the Great Question
''Thc drug question seems at the present
time to be the most difficult problem to solve
from our standpoint and from that of the
courts All of tho Judges naturally feel
addict. who is often the victim of his en-
vironmcnt. There is little doubt that there
has been n steadily increasing number of
drug addcts in the city during the last few
years.
but the drug pcddIcr is the man who
should be got. It is the drug addict who
makes the pcddlcr possible. There is only
one thing which the Judges "an do in cases
like this. and that is TO order III" addict
placed under detention with. hrSt, the
. hnin off oil npl
ond. while he is confined and under sur
vcillnnce, a potent source of revenue Is cut
off from the drug p"ddIrr.
1T naturally follows that if there were
no drug addicts there could not be any drug
urddIrrS. The danger is that the Judges,
through sympathy with the victims. may be
too lcncnt with them, throwing them ont
again upon society. where the drug prddlrr
NJ once resumes his hold on them and the
whole thing starts over again.
Working of Parole System
"Probatlon Is II judicial system by which
an offender against the penal law, instead
Of being punished by a prison sentence. is
given an opportunity !" reform himself under
Supervision and subject to tn" conditions
imroscd by the Court with that end in virw
If he shows by his course of conduct that he
has really reformed. no further punishment
for his otfCnSc will be imposed
"Whrn an offender against the law is
trial. lie is permitted 10 hav" his liberty,
ia nssocintr with his fellow men in the ONT :
side world instead of being thrown into assoc
citation with that class wlN'h knows nothing
but crime and who in their idle moments
are evolving new campaigns against society.
'Iurlng the entire period Of pr0batiur
. ronStant. judciOuS and helpful SuprrvSion
l., necessary. but it ngvcr amounts To undue
ANNOYANCE. This supervision involves Il con.
slant study Of the probai"n"r and of his
environment. 10 attain real results it is
imucrntivc to gain and ho,d the condcnrr
and respect Of the probati0nCr and to i'm
nrr,S upon him that this relation il mutuuI
Nutrrnl help must also b" given at Times
to allow him to live under proper conditions
ia nssoriutr with drSrabl" companion, and
TO avoid harmful and dangerous influences
Reawakening VIII Power
"Thc probation officer must not he cun.
tcnt with siding the probutionrr to rhrr,
his evil tendencies during the period Of his
nrobation. Evil prorljvilirS, if not rniirnIv
rrudirntrd, m" likely to break oDlt again ~,
soon us he has served his probation aud hns
thus escaped sentence for any vlOlaiIun f
the law. II Is thus necessary tor the ,iiror,
in dealing with this cluSS Of probaliunrrs f.,
obscrv" closely their mental and uhr,ioI
.mnkc-up, both Of which enter hlrnupIv i,t
the reclamation Of Il person.
't)he OF IN" most important factors in tI,i
connection ~ thc rcaWakcning of tho v'iII
power. Without this the best rns,I,, w., M
never be obtained and every nrnhntionuan. un
must make up his mind firmly b''toher that bo ~