The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-04
Sits
new SYSTEM
OF CLEMENCY
Michigan Commissioner to
Explain Plan on His
Return Here.
MAY RESTORE BOARD
Abolition of Pardon Group
in 1927 Is Viewed as
Backward Step.
MAY RESTORE BOARD
BY DANIEL NJ. KIDNEY


Regarding Indianas penal problem
as one of the most important re-
quiring solution in the state, Gov
ernor Harry G. Leslie and Gaylord
Morton, secretary in charge Of pa
roles, have launched a study OF
clemency methods which may result
in recommendations in the Govern
or's message to the 1881 legislature,
it was learned today.
Abolition of the state pardon
board by the legislature in 1927,
upon recommendation of former
Governor Ed Jackson, has proved a
step backward, members of the Gov
ernor's crime conference generally
agree.
Leslie's recommendations may ask
the boards restoration, creation OF a
penal department to handle proba-
ton as we'll as pardons and paroles,
or creation of the position Of pardon
commissioner.
Plan to Be Explained
Arthur D. Wood pardon commits
sioner of Michigan, stopped at the
Governors office Thursday en- route
to Louisville, where today he is ate
tending the annual national confer
ence of governmental social workers.
Morton arranged for him to re-
turn here Saturday morning, when
he will explain the Michigan plan
at a conference with Leslie.
1--WE appreciate Indiana'S problem
in this matter of pardons and pa
roles, for in Michigan we tried all
systems before hitting upon a salts
factory solution" Wood told The
Indianapolis Times.
Leaving pardons and paroles to
institution trustees was abandoned
long ago in our state as being per-
hapS the most efficacious system.
Then We tried the part-time board.
This turned into sort of log-roll-
ing contest for freeing prisoners.
zone member of the board would
want this man out and another
that They would trade and the re.
suit was that two prisoners would
be freed when perhaps neither
should have been.
Responsibility Conferred
"The advantage of the one-man
commission is that it definitely fixes
responsibility. There can be no
passing the buck If a mistake is
made, the commissioner is blamed,
and justly So Only appeal to the
Governor is possible, and it is sell
dom that he approves or denies Pc
titions without the commissioners
recommendation.
1.-The commissioner is appointed
by the Governor, and of course car
rieS part of the responsibility for
success or failure of the admins
tration."
Wood has a staff of eleven em-
ployeS functioning in his depart
ment. Besides the offices at the
Lansing Statehouse, Tichigan has
branches at Grand Rapids and De-
troit, he explained.
All important cases are investi-
gated personally by the commits
sioner or his assistant. Paroles Of
prisoners not having served their
minimum sentence run as high as
300 month, Wood declared.
Wins High Reputation
Wood has made such reputation
that he is being considered for one
of three federal commissioners If
and when the new federal prison
commission is created. A bill for
its creation is pending in congress.
A penal department, to handle
probation as well as paroles, is per-
haps the most advanced and en-
lightened system for solving modern
penal problems, Wood believes.
After leaving the statehouse,
Wood went to Pendleton and in
spected the Indiana state REFORM
atory. Upon his return he partic-
ularly praised the economy en-
ployed in construction of cell blocks
at the institution. He said that
cell blocks are 9uilt at Pendleton
for $500 a unit, which in Michigan
cost from 800 to $4,000.
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