Evening star., 1934-11-22
PAROLE PROGRAM
Of BOARD TO GET
STUDY SATURDAY
Officials Stress Harmony as
Basis of Conference With
Commissioners.
OPINION SAYS BOARDS
RECORDS NOT AVAILABLE
Prettyman Says Request on Dono-
van Case Improper as Sum-
mary Was Given.

The functioning of the Districts
ch-discussed parole system and its
bearing on law enforcement will be
reviewed Saturday at joint meeting
between the District Commissioners
and members of the Parole Board.
OfficiaS at the District Building to-
day made it clear the meeting was not
called to investigate the Parole Board.
On the contrary, it will be a get
together for the discussion of policies
and questions of relationship between
the Commissioners and the board.
Commissioner George E. Allen yes
terday asked Wilbur La Roe, jr., and
Dr. Emmett Scott, board members, to
meet with the Commissioners to-
morrow. La Roe went to the District
Building today. however, and had the
session postponed until Saturday, be-
cause DR.. Scott has a previous ap-
pointment.
The other member of the board.
w. W. Bride, has been seriously i'll for
some time and will be unable to at
tend.
Authority Declared Lacking.
The opinion that the Commissioners
have no authority to demand Parole
Board records was rendered today by
Corporation Counsel E. Barrett
Prettyman, who was asked to investi-
gate the question by Commissioner
Allen after the controversy which
arose over the parole of James F.
Donovan from Lorton Reformatory a
week ago.
The Parole Board, Prettyman
pointed out, was set up by act of
June Is, 1882, as a separate. inde-
pendent body charged with the ex-
ercise Of discretion not subject to re-
view"
Prettyman stated "the power Of the
Commissioners over the Parole Board
is limited, The Commissioners ap-
point members of the board. The
board cannot adopt rules and regula-
tions for its procedure unless they
are approved by the Commissioners,
and it cannot appoint parole officers
without the approval of the Commis-
sioners. No further power is given
the Commissioners under the act.
1T is my opinion. therefore. that
the Commissioners cannot direct the
Parole Board to make its records
public"
Summary Already Given.
In this connection, LaRoe explained
the board had given Commissioner
Allen all the information he asked
fora summary of the Donovan pa
role.
Donovan was paroled to an In
diana farm after serving 80 months
on 10-year term for armed hold-ups
here.
LaRoe pointed out this act altered
Donovan's status only geographic
ally" since he had been in charge of
Lorton's chicken ranch for almost
two years, and was trusty, living on
the farm at least a mile from the
main dormitorieS.
I'VE have heard from probation Of
fcials in Indiana" LaRoe said. "and
| Donovan has fulfilled every require
ment of his parole. We believe the
prisoner will justify the confidence We
have placed in him"
Commissioner Allen said Saturdays
meeting was called because of "the
! public discussion" which has arisen
over the Districts parole system. He
said every phase of the system would
be gone into.
Additional Help Requested
The Commissioners already have
requested of the Budget Bureau ap-
prooriations during the 1886 fiscal
year for two additional parole officers
or investigators, and stenographer.
At present, the board has a secre-
tary, Hugh F. Rivers; an assistant
in charge of prisoner records at Lor-
ton Reformatory and only one field
parole officer No salaries are paid
| board members.
! LaRoe took occasion today to deny
reports that there was lack Of CO.
operation between the Commissioners
and board members. "On the con-
trary." LaRoe said, I'VE are working
with the Commissioners 100 per cent,
and they have shown US the same
consideration"
One question expected to be raised
at the meeting is fhether a long
police record. should exclude
prisoner from parole. Donovan had
been convicted at least seven times
since 1921, on charges ranging from
breaking the police regulations to
robbery He previously was paroled
from Leavenworth Penitentiary after
serving four years of l0-year SEN
tence for grand larceny in the Dis
! trict.
The parole system was discussed
at a conference yesterday between
Commissioner Allen, Maj. Ernest
Brown, superintendent of police. and
, Lieut.. Col. Dan /. Sultan, Engineer