The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-30
PLEA MADE TO
REHABILEFATE
EX-PRISONERS
edwin Gill Writes Compre'
hensively Of Problem
Affecting Humanity
State Parole Commission
By EDWIN M. GILL

RALEIGH, Ian. 30.-(UP)-
Prison is no Siberia from which
eXlles never return.
The great majority of prison
ers are coming back to society
some day whether paroled or not.
Ihey are coming back now in
North Carolina at the rate of
1910 per month by reason of the
expiration of their sentences.
Is it not well for the courts,
the prison, the welfare and parole
agencies to cooperate in pro-
gram seeking to reform end re-
habllltate as many men as posi-
BILE? Shall we not make an honest
effort to salvage human charac-
ter and prevent further breeding
of crime?
'Inasmuch as the parole office
is a human agency, it will, of
course, make some mistakes. But
errors will be greatly outweighed
by the tremendous gain to soci-
ETY. in the reclamation of human
character and in the curbing Of
criminal tendencies. Certainly an
occasional mistake would not JUS
tify an abandonment of the pro
gram any more than an occasion.
al miscarriage Of justice or act of
brutality would justify the abol-
ishment Of courts and prisons.
| would not for 4 moment sug-
gest that parole is the magic by
which all our social ills are to be
cured. Parole is simply one Of
the many effective weapons which
can be utilized by society in an
effort to stem the rising tide Of
crime.
Why is it necessary for a study
of every prisoners case to be
made? Have they not been found
guilty by the courts?
It is natural that people should
ask these questions. The parole in
veStigation is not primarily con-
cerned with the guilt or innocence
of prisoners. OF course, Ill very
exceptional cases parole investi-
cation might disclose an innocent
man had been convicted and re-
lief would be given by way Of
executive clemency.
Prisoners are presumed to be
guilty. The parole investigation is
concerned mainly with discover
ing the true nature of prisoners
and in watching their develop
ment after commitment.
The parole office is interested
in discovering gooo parole mater
ial, but its Investigations are
thoroughly impartial and tAe pa
role office is just as interested
in keeping bad men in prison for
their full terms as it is in recon-
mending the release of men who
have reformed.
In everything the parole office
does it is concerned with the pub.
lie interest. If men have reform
ed and are ready to return to So
ciety, then it is in the public in
terest that they be released as
early as compatible with justice.
If on the other hand the prisoner
is a menace to society, OF if the
majesty of the law demands that
he serve every day of his SEN
tence, every effort should be
made to keep him in for the full
period of his time.
There are prisoners who should
never be paroled. If it were pos
sible under the law, their SEN
tence should be long enough to
shut them up for life. The pro-
lection Of society seems to de-
mand that in such cases the pun
ishment fit the criminal rather
than the crime.
In this group we find the con-
firmed law violator, the congeni-
tally victims vicious and the warp
ed brains that are beyond the
influence of reason. Men Of this
type do not always display their
true qualities at the trial. They
may be strangers in the commun-
ity where the crime was commit
ted and the court may have Meth
er, the facilities nor the time for
analysis.
On the other hand there are
DE0Tnn LNK nrn