The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-28
INDIANA PENAL
SYSTEM FACES
SWEEPING QUIZ
Seven Famed Experts,
Headed by Warden LaweS,
to Conduct Probe.
FIRST SESSION JULY 6
SiX-POint Reform Program
to Be Studied by
Investigators.

A sweeping investigation Of Indi-
ana penal institutions by A fact
finding commission Of seven nation
ally known experts in the fields OF
penology and social reform vas an
nounced today.
Heading the commission invited
BY Governor Paul Y. McNutt 10
pass upon an already tentatively
drawn penal program is Warden
Lewis f. LaWes Of Sing Sing prison.
The personnel also includes:
Sanford Bates. director Of the
United States bureau of PRISONS
Ernest n. Roselle. superintendent of
Mooseheart school. Mooseheart, Ill;
DR.. T. Lowell Bixby. assistant di-
rector of the United States bureau
Of prisons. department of justice
Miss Blanche LaDu. director Min
nesota department Of justice; Bur
dette Lewis. OF the American Pub
lie Welfare Association. and Dean
A. A. Potter. of the Purdue uni
versitv engineering school
First meeting OF the commission
will be held with Governor McNutt
in the executive offices here July 6.
COY Reveals Plans
Announcement OF the commission
and its members willingness to ad-
wise on a penal reform program Tor
Indiana was made this afternoon
BY Wayne Coy. underSecretary 20
Governor McNutt. IN an address be-
fore the Central States Parole Con-
ference at Chicago.
Tracing the career of John Dill
Hnger. whose nationwide depreda-
lions threw the Indiana penal sys-
tenn into the limelight. Mr.. Coz
admitted that he had little doubt
that the state of Indiana made
DiIHnger Public Enemy No. l.
Mr.. Gov outlined the facts con-
corning Dillinger'S sentence 10 the
Indiana state refOrmatory, SubSe-
uuent transfer TO the state peniten-
tiary and the parole which loosed
him upon a defenseless public.
There does not seem to me to be
any escape from the fact that the
state of Indiana made John Dill
Inger the Public Enemy No. l that
he il today Mr.. Coy said. The
Indiana Constitution provides that
our penal code shall be reformativ
and not vindictive.
Indiana Is 10 Blame
Taking the case before us. We are
. forced to the conclusion that our
pensl institutions obviously failed
of reformation. or that Dillinger
vas given too long a sentence for
his first ofense, or both. Instead OF
reforming this prisoner. our penal
institutions provided him With an
education in crime.
Mr.. Gov referred TO the fact that
DiHinger pleaded guilty to robbery
of a MooreSville merchant and ter
DAYS later was sentenced to ten tC
twenty years for assault and battery
with intent to rob. while his partner
older and with a criminal record
stood trial and got only two to four
teen years.
Mr.. Gov outlined the following
six-point pOrgram which will be laic
before the penal experts who have
accepted Governor MoNutt's invita-
ton.
l. A more widespread use OF pro-
baton in order that many flrSI
offenders may be returned TO places
OF usefulness in society without the
stigma of confinement in pena
institution.
Uniform Sentences Urged
>. Uniformity of sentences Il
those convicted of felOnieS. with
mower 10 a board of competent per-
IONS authorized to fix the length oil
sentence in each case.
Such sentences would be truly in
Discriminate with A low minimum
Reformable types could be released
early and the nOnreformable hello
for long maximum terms. No mar
would be released from prison. il
such a release could not be MADE
with safety.
ON the other hand. many youth
full and accidental offenders nov
serving long sentences would have
opportunity 10 return 10 society. OF
the application OF oetermlnate SEN
fences in all felony cases, with gooo
time allowance for those who serve
their time without marks on thell
record. with further good time al
lowance at the discretion Of a COM
petent board for those who make
sufficient progress in the program Of
rehabilitation laid out for them.
3. A thorough pre-parole training
Case Studies Recomme--1ed
4. An examination of the whole
routine Of prison life with par
ticular regard TO its effect on th'
reformation Of the prisoner.
5. Case studies of each of tht
prisoners to the end that each cast
nav receive the kind Of training Of
treatment needed. Such informa.
ton likewise is valuable TO TIT
prison official charged with parole
supervision.
s. An adequate staff of properly
trained parole supervisors and Z
close coordination OF this work witt
the welfare work in the various
counties.