Evening star., 1934-12-18
FUND FOR PAROLE
BOARD ADVOCATED
BY MONDAY CLUB
Organization Indorses "Sin-
cere Efforts" of Members
to Improve System.
PROPOSAL FOR PROBE
ATTACKED BY LA ROE
Acting Chairman Declares He
Fears Possible Loss of
Independence"


With a request that Congress ap-
propriate money for the operation Of
the District Parole Board, the Mon
day Evening Club was on record to-
day as indorsing the sincere ef-
forts" of its members to establish
an adequate parole system.
The clubs action was taken last
night after a discussion Of the "Es-
sentials Of an Adequate Parole Sys-
tem,' at the conclusion of which
Wilbur La Roe, jr., acting chairman
of the Parole Board, charged that
heavy pressure" is being brought to
bear on the board. sometimes even
from United States Senators" He
did not name them.
What is giving US serious concern"
he said, "is the possible loss of our
independence" He then made the
charge of heavy pressure" and con-
cluded with the observation that If
the board did lose its independence it
would be practically valueless.
Defends Parole Board.
La Roe pointed out the Parole
oOdIQ ulClIlDClo SClNC WlJllOuL Pdy,
that the board has no staff, that
there is no educational system in
operation at the District penal in
stitution at Lorton, Va, to aid it in
selecting prisoners for parole and
that its tasks are almost insur-
mountable.
Attacking the proposal to conduct
a congressional investigation of the
board, La Roe said he would like to
tell the member of Congress who sug-
gested it.
You set up an ideal system in the
District of Columbia, but you didn't
give us one penny to work with and
not single parole officer to work
with"
He said that through the co-opera-
ton of officials at Lorton he had been
loaned one parole officer, but that he
had the task of supervising 200 men
walking the streets of Washington
today"
Pledges Three-Point Program.
However, he pledged the board to a
three-point program:
1. To keep in Lorton all dangerous
criminals.
2. To rehabilitate, as far as is pos
sible without funds, all paroled pris-
oners, especially younger men.
3. To give those who are paroled
careful, attentive, big-brother treat
ment" to see that they are restored
to normal places in society.
La Roe cited statistics to show that
nf he 1oc CT tal i,,
the District, only 3-all joy-riding
have been charged to individuals pa
rolled by this board. He said also he
is opposed to the publication of the
records of prisoners who are paroled.
Fred A. Moran, executive director
of parole for New York State, the
principal speaker, said that from a
hasty observation he believes the Dis
trict has "as pernicious system in
some respects as we in New York
State" He referred to the operation
of "good-time" laws and the lack of
proper facilities to train and rehabili-
tate prisoners for normal lives in So
ciety.
The outstanding needs for an
adequate parole system In the opinion
VI 41OI Oil, ICCOSil1ACQ oil
on the subject, are:
/. A full-time, adequately paid
Parole Board.
2. Removal Of inequalities in the
sentencing of prisoners for the same
types Of crime.
3. Sound educational systems in
penal institutions and adequately
stated classification boards to select
prisoners for parole.
4. Definite rehabilitation projects
and planned treatment for the paroled
prisoners.
S. Trained personnel and a sufi-
cient staff.
Allen Nolan, Of the District Re-
habilitation Bureau, expressed the
opinion one Of the essentials Of an
adequate parole system is "the CO.
operation of the judiciary with the
Parole Board in giving sentences so
the board could have some say as
to how long a prisoner should stay
in the penitentiary."
Bates Differs With Nolan.
He proposed the judge say: "I
sentence you to prison" Then, under
his scheme, the Parole Board could
investigate the man, rehabilitation
could be begun in prison and when
the board thought he was ready 1t
could grant him a parole.
Sanford Bates, Federal prison direc-
tor, however, suggested the Districts
indeterminate sentence law be re-
voked and the Federal minimum
maximum sentence law be substi-
tuted. He warned that confusion will
arise between the two systems in cases
of District prisoners who are sent to
Federal institutions because of the
lack of a wall around Lorton. Also,
he contended, the Federal system
works out much better in the matter
of parole.
About the administration of parole,
Bates had this to say:
UNLESS a parole board is equipped
to get the cold, hard facts about a
man-not Endorsements or sponsors
or letters from politicians-then there
might Just as well not be q parole
hoard %