Evening star., 1934-11-13

LeTWLtTQLG SSHLeTLCc uNu puIOtS tuUS
uhich haze been subjected to criti-
ciSm in connection Uith the anti
crime campaign.
Despite recent attacks on the Dis
trict's indeterminate sentence and
parole laws. Melvin C. Hazen, presi.
dent of the Board of Commissioners
is not convinced they have proved
failure.
Commissioner Hazen, however, Is
rather reluctant to express any def
mite views pending a report from the
committee Of 40 of the District Bar
Association which is making study
of the whole crime situation.
"In the light Of the recent public
discussion of the parole and proba-
ton system" Mr. Hazen said, "all our
people must. now recognize what we
as officials have long recognized
namely, that this is one of the mos,
controversial of all the features OF
criminal law enforcement.
Experts Views Differ.
"Some experts say the whole ides
is bad and ought to be repealed anc
abandoned. Some say the idea Ii
a great and beneficial one and that th'
Parole Board ought to be given more
personnel and more power. Other:
take a middle course and assert thai
while the idea is good, the admins
tration of it in the past has been oae
and ought to be corrected.
Personally, I am not convinced
that the parole system has proved
failure. Moreover, I am persuaded
that the members Of our local boare
are high minded citizens with but one
idea. that is to serve the public In thu
best and highest sense.
"At the same time I do not nnt
myself in accord with the theory thai
the Parole Board ought to parole
convict merely on the record he ha'
made in prison. I do not think tina
the law means that after serving the
minimum sentence the convict Is ac'
tually entitled to parole. His pas'
record. his attitude toward society
his dangerous character as free mar
ought to be considered, In my judg'
ment. :,
"The parole law, as I view 1t, L
for the purpose Of rehabilitating mer
after they have been fully and ade'
ouately punished for their violation
of law. To that extent the law Is
a good one. When 1t goes beyond
that it becomes bad one"
other District ofacfals, directly
concerned with the indeterminate
sentence and parole laws. are more
positive that fundamentally they are
sound, but insist that the admins
tration is ineffective because OF the
lack of an adequate and properly
qualified personnel. The Parole Boarc
now has only one field ofhcer with
200 PAROLES to supervise.
Office in d. C. Opposed.
Another criticism that has grown
out of the debate over the law came
from Capt. M. M. Barnard, genera
superintendent of District penal In
stitutions, who objects to the Parole
Board Office being located In the Dis.
trict Building instead Of at Lorton
He recently told the Commissioners
he could "see no earthly reason" fol
having the Office in the District.
st know Of no prison In the coun.
try that does not keep the parole
records at the institution except the
Federal Government, which has
prisons all over the United States,
said Capt. Barnard. people are 60
ing to the Office in Washington tt
make inquiry about prisoners which
should be handled from this institu.
ton Gorton) and the constant call
ing over the phone between the twf
ofices makes it impossible for u
to get call on any other busines,
from half an hour to an hour at q
time"
The Parole Board itself, however
Is opposed to the change. I'VE arr
constrained to insist that the meet
ings (of the Parole Board) be held
in the District of Columbia and that
necessary assistance be provided,
the board replied to Capt. Barnard,
recommendation.
"The atmosphere Of the prison 4
not conducive to the best and mos
eficient service by members Of th'
board and its STAFF. As q matter o.
fact, the board has no staff. IT