Evening star., 1935-01-06
How Federal Parole System Works
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

not interested In obtaining parole.
They submit to what they cali their
rap and await with what patience
they can, the day Of discharge. While
the authorities have no custody of
any sort OF a released prisoner, In
contrast with the loose custody they
have Of a paroled man, still they
frequently acquaint themselves with
his movements.
It is found that one type will
either go home or go to some dis
tant place and attempt TO find work.
The habitual criminal. the man who
does not want parole, will go straight
back to his gang or to his family. II
that family is in league with him.
BY investigating the family of a con-
vict and It's associates, prison au-
thorities can form pretty accurate
opinion OF what course released
prisoner Is likely to take.
Parole advisers, in their investigan
ton of family and associate circum-
stances, also supplement the work
OF welfare agencies. 1t is discovered
to what extent prisoner has left
behind him a destitute family. II
the family is destitute, assistance is
provided in putting it in touch with
the proper welfare authorities, giving
instructions as to proper procedure,
| and SO on. Parole advisers are ex.
pected to do their work unobtrusively.
Friendly Cooperation Sought.
There often is a decidedly human
side to the contact of parole officers
with families. The officer ascertains
whether the family is familiar with
prison rules. Does it know, for ex-
| ample, the regulations regarding the
writing of letters, the making of visits
and the sending of gifts? Mr.. Huff
outlines some of the services per-
formed. He says: Through what
resources of money. occupation and
! associates is the family living? What
are its interests in work, friends and
leisure activities? To whom is it
natural for it to appeal for help
or consolation What other resources
| of interest are practical to introduce
to it? What is the attitude of the
| family toward the prisoner?"
| An interesting angle of this pro-
/ cedure is that it fits in exactly with
the theory that criminals often are the
! product Of their environment. An
astonishing number of prison inmates
in the United States are young-many
OF them minors. BY contact with
families. parole advisers have an op-
! portunity to learn just what the en-.
vironment is and then. through CO.
operation with constructive social
agencies. they can attempt at least to
| improve the environment so that other
young members, coming along, will not
| follow in criminal course.
The parole advisers are in a par
! ticularly advantageous position for
this work because they do not appear
as officials but as friendly citizens,
exhibiting a neighborly interest. II
family with member in Jail wishes
to communicate or advise with a
parole officer, he may be called in. He
acts as a sort of interpreter between
the family and the prison authorities.
In all human affairs there is a con-
slant possibility of a slip. In spite of
the 10000 parole advisers. men on
parole occasionally violate it and at
tempt escape beyond touch. With so
many eyes watching not only the man
but his family and associates. this Is
difficult indeed. and usually the un-
worthy parolee is haled back with
forfeiture of his good behavior
allowance.