Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-02-12
GOSPEL OF THE SECOND CHANCE


TIME State Senate should quickly and favorably
j. on the prisoners parole bill which passed the
of Representatives by decisive vote last week.
It is our belief overwhelming majority OF Della
want such a law enacted.
Certainly the lower House impressed. and the
same arguments and line Of reasoning should prove
equally convincing TO the Senate
with similar parole successful operation in
almost all the States difficult how there can
be any serious division opinion the matter that
prevent early action by the Senate But lest the
House measure buried in the avalanche
OF bills that have been Dover. IL is ss-
pecialiy desirable that the Senate act quickly.
Parole laws breathe spirit the gospel of the
second chance" They long since passed out of
the experimental stage. Certainly know that inn
prsonment and the threat of imprisonment have not
deferred crime to the desired. Rather crimes
of all kinds have been on the To what
tent long terms in poory-eonducted prisons the
supply OF criminals know exactly.
Persons who have made study of penal systems
and institutions have insisted that criminals made
in our prisons particularly the class of inmates
that is committed for long terms. There ray
Of hope for them except out their terms
and leave captivity IN middle late life with their
manliness gone often with their hearts hardened
and criminal intensified through long assO-
citation with other criminals
There was nothing for them to return to IN theout
side world but a life OF crime.
Statistics which have been gathered covering every
part Of the country show eighty Of one
hundred paroed prisoners make good; that tn eighty
take some proper place in social life and conduct
themselves in normal and useful ways. Surely. one
can prove by statistics that eighty cent OF pris-
oners who served under the older laws
were regenerated It Is probably capable Of deonsra
ton that almost high percentage went straight
back TO jail
Go out to Greenbank and talk with any number Of
prisoners therel Ask them what their sole nspira-
ton preventing their giving up TO despair! Almost
without exception the answer will be;
Il have hope that somehow something will happen
which will enable me to join the OF my fellow
men in the outside world"
Make prisons as model you choose, but no normal
man can feel or act other than Gagged animal while
in Jail AS of fact penologists recognize that
only 80 s rare cases the reformation OF prisoner
work out to wholly successful end within prison walls.
The main lettering influence that keeps paroled
prisoner from slipping the knowledge that he is
AT liberty only on probation. He knows that his liberty
depends upon his continuing good behavior His
ence has not been Tho provides that he is
tfu subject TO re-comritment should be break any
criminal statute his intimate knowledge just
what incarceration means only the who deiber-
a,elv prefers life crime else defective his
mental equipment will commit a fresh crime with a
suspended sentence hanging his head. He win so
straight il it be within his power do sol
The bill now pending in the Senate has been drawn
carefully and made the object OF much study. The
subject matter Of the has been criticised
freely The bill should proper shape for mmedi-
ate passage.
We urge such action on the part of the sensts