The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-02
Liberal Viewpoint
by DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES -


NEW YORK state has possibility of new
~ deal in criminology as well as in industry.
The Quinn Robinson parole bill, which has been
passed by the state legislature and now lies be-
fore the Governor for his signature, is capable
of bringing about most remarkable progress in
the field of criminology. 1t would not only serve
the cause of humanity, but would also effect
great economy.
The bill challenges much of our archaic ira
ditions and conventions in dealing with GRIM
inals. It even assumes to question the ON
niscience of judges and to raise some doubts as
to whether every judge is capable of determin-
ing at the moment of sentence exactly when
any convict would be fitted for release.
AS a consequence, all the forces Of savagery
and reaction are united against the bill IN the
same way as the foes of economic progress are
combining bitterly to fight the Stock Exchange
regulation proposed in the F7etcher-R ayburn
bill In both cases the old deal is lined up
firmly against the deal.
I believe it is extremely important that the
Governor should sign this bill. In the first
place it is thoroughly in line with the progress
sive ideas held by the state corrections COM
missioners. The parole principle is corner
stone of progressive penology. In the second,
place. this bill would go a long way toward I'M
dermining and offsetting the savagery of the
Baumes laws, the failure of which to effect the
desired results is already all too apparent
the Quinn Robinson bill?
First. the old DOGGY of Jail delivery is
raised once more 1t is alleged that II THIS law
goes into force we shall have turned loose upon
US whole army of dangerous crooks. 1t is as
sllmcd that the parole commission will exert
no discrimination or restraint in their handling
of applications for parole This argument IS
particularly popular with hard-boiled police
officials throughout the state
THERE Is little foundation for any such
i alarm. The New York state parole COM
mission studies far more carefully the case OF
every convict involved than does the sentencing
judge before he imposes the sentence. Nothing
would more quickly certainly discredit the
parole commission than indiscriminate granting
of paroles In mere Self-defense, it would be
compelled to use decent restraint.
We can, however have more assurance than
this. There are plenty Of other states in which
the parole commissions have as much dlscre-
tionary power as is enviSaged in the Quinn Rob
inson bill. We have no records of jail deliveries
in such states Almost invariably the work of
such parole commissions is one of the few bright
spots in the chronological work of the state.
Second it is held that the judge knows bet
ter than any parole commission how long man
needs to be incarcerated. This argument can
not stand up under the most elementary logical
analysis Only those who are able to follow the
behavior of the man after sentence has been
imposed can possibly know whether he has given
such evidence of reformation would justify
conditional release. Imagine judge assuming
to sentence an insane person to a state hos
pitA for five years and six months giving the
doctors of the institution discretion as to
when the patient should be released.
THIRD, it is alleged that the parole commits
l. sion would be opened up to the serious dan
ger of powerful political influence being exerted
to insure the release Of dangerous criminals.
This may be doubted but even if true the same
argument applies with far greater force to the
sentencing power of judges. Our judges are
much more closely linked with the political sys-
tenn of the state than the parole commission
could possibly be. If we do not worry about
political influence in connection with the SEN
fencing power of judges, we need not be greatly
concerned about its operation with respect to
the exercise of parole authority.
! Let us not, however attack the great progress
sive principle of parole which has been advo-
Gated by intelligent criminologists for more than
century and has amply justified itself by the
experience of the country in the last generation.
1t may be a long time before New York will
be offered another opportunity of comparable
scope in the way Of bringing its treatment of
criminals into accord with science and CIV
| zation.