Evening star., 1934-12-05
ALLEN PREDICTS
MOVE TO CHANGE
D. c. PAROLE LAW
Commissioners Probably
Will Ask Congress to
Bolster System.
BOARD WILL CONSIDER
SUTTON CASE SATURDAY
Publicity on Grants of Clemency
Advocated as Safeguard
Against Abuses.

Against Abuses.
The Commissioners probably will
ask Congress to change the District
parole law so as to strengthen and
make more effective its operations,
Commissioner George E. Allen said
today. This was his tentative reac-
tion to the flood of suggestions COM
piled at the public hearing yesterday
before the committee investigating
the parole system.
DR.. Emmett J. Scott, Howard Uni
versity official and a member of the
Parole Board, also forecast a move
to revamp the parole system. Both
officials explained, however, they have
not yet arrived at any definite con-
clusion and said the transcript Of
yesterdays discussions by numerous
civic and professional leaders first
would be studied by the committee
at meeting Friday.
Meanwhile, the Parole Board was
studying the case of Albert S. Sutton,
alleged gambler released on parole,
who is facing charges of violating his
parole pledge. The board will con-
slider Saturday whether his parole
should be revoked and the man should
serve the remainder of his term.
Linked With Gambling.
The board is said to have evidence
that Sutton has had connections with
gambling operations since his release.
This information was said to have
been obtained by police in raid on
an alleged gambling establishment in
the 1900 block of E street Parole
Board officials said today they have
not yet reached a decision IN the
case
Reviewing opinions voiced at yes
terday's hearing on the parole system,
Commissioner Allen said important
questions raised included proposals for
increasing the minimum time a prls-
oner must serve before becoming
eligible for parole, the need for in
creasing the staff of parole officers,
and the question of giving publicity
to parole case matters.
Allen indicated he is inclined to be-
Eeve it may be found advisable to
raise the minimum time requirements
from one-fifth to one-third Of the
minimum sentence to make the Dis
trict law conform to the Federal sys-
tenn He more definitely indicated he
believes more publicity should be
given to parole case questions.
Sees Aid in Publicity.
TOO much secrecy might be found
to place too much power in the hands
of a parole board if at some time We
had Parole Board members not as
honest and trustworthy as the present
worthy members of our board Allen
said. 1T appears that public officials
come nearest to being right when their
actions are openly performed"
Agreeing that some information
used by the Parole Board is of con-
fidential nature, Allen said he believes
It would be in public interest to have
most of parole case data available for
public inspection, if the public is in
terested.
Allen said if case is not sensa-
tional, no one is interested, and if it
is, it most likely would be in public
interest to allow the information to
be public. He has in mind particu-
larly publication of the list of sponsors
for prisoners with bad criminal rec
ords, the names of their parole advisers
and advance notice that their cases
are coming up for decision.
DR.. Scott said he was chiefly i'm
l.,,z Sc h.
increasing the minimum time require
ment for parole.
The many pages of testimony given
by a dozen speakers called to yeSter-
days parley will be given careful study
by the board.
There was almost unanimous decla-
rations of faith in the parole system as
q plan for benefting both society and
the reformed criminal but numerous
insistent suggestions were offered for
improving the District system. These
ranged from proposals that the Parole
Board be abolished and its functions
transferred to the Federal Parole
Board to suggestions for increasing the
staff of the District agency and in
creasing the minimum time a prisoner
must serve before he becomes eligible
for parole.
Capt. NJ. NJ. Barnard. veteran head
Of the District penal system, the first
witness, submitted definite views on
parole matters. but insisted that a
much more vital question was the
urgent need of separating hardened
criminals and first offenders, now
thrown together at the District Re-
formatory at Lorton.
Conditions at Lorton have turned
the institution into a mad house"
and made impossible its operation as
real reformatory plan, Capt. Barnard
declared
Capt. Barnard renewed his plea that
a real effort be made to obtain funds
for completion of the walled group OF
buildings at Lorton so that the
hardened criminals may be separated
from the first offenders. He also in
sisted that to relieve the present Situ-
alton the Department of Justice be
urged to place the hardened criminals
In Federal prisons
Others who presented ideas included
Sanford Bates. superintendent of Fed
eral prisons: Leslie c. Garnett, United
States attorney; Leo A. Rover, former
United States attorney: Judge Fay
Bentley of the District Juvenile Court;
Rev. John O'Grady of the Catholic
Charities: James G. Yaden, president
of the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions, and Seth Richardson. member
of the District Bar Association.
Capt Barnard advocated a transfer
of the granting of paroles to prisoners
here to the Federal Parole Board. At
all events, he declared, the District
law should be amended to make it
conform strictly with the Federal