The Coolidge examiner., 1937-02-04
Warden Barnes
Continued from Page One)


young man who had made good i'll
this institution: had paid his debt
to Society. He had no family and
no friends in this State. The law
permitted me to give the munificent
sum of $500 and send him out in
the world, into a society in which
he was a misfit before he came
here, and tell him to make good
in a society that had been steadily
marching on all the years he had
been incarcerated in this instistu-
tion-tell him to make good in that
society that has gone on and left
him during the years of his
incarceration.
| wrote a letter to certain in
dividual in the Capitol at Phoenix,
telling him this boy had made good
here and pleaded for a job on a
farm, or any place where he could
make good. Today l received card
from the boy stating that he had
spent his last penny yesterday;
that he did not know where he was
going to turn next for food and
shelter. He could not write me a
letter as he had only one penny left
with which to purchase the post
card that was sent today.
What chance has this young man
to make good under the circum-
stances? If he fails and is paroled
and fails again he becomes an
habitual criminal under this Habit
ual Criminal Law and must be
sentenced to life in a penal institu-
ton.
[ am asking the Legislature of
the State of Arizona to give tl.is
institution a parole and rehabilita-
ton officer We should have at
least four such officers in this
State, but l have asked the Legis
Iature for only one until l can prove
the value of this legislation. The
duty of this parole and rehabilita-
ton officer would be to go out be-
fore the man is paroled and find
him a job, stay with him and work
with him and help him to re-
habilitate himself with society.
This my friends, would be build
ing a fence around the top of the
cliff, and if we can rehabilitate
even a small portion of the 700 in
this State institution when it comes
time for their parole, and make use
full citizens of them-men that will
take up the burden of life and
carry on, become Taxpayers in this
state instead of liabilities upon the
State-it would reflect in your tax
budget. If we can, in a measure.
reduce the cost of crime in this
State, will not capital be more will
ing to invest on account of a re-
duction of taxes,
cannot see why the Legislature
should not pass a. bill permitting
this institution to manufacture
articles for sale, as other states
have done, to the extent that this
institution may become more near
ly self-supporting. l know the cry
goes up that we are competing with
private industries, but the competi-
ton of this institution with private
industry would never amount to
much, and would not private in
dustry be better off with the re-
duction to the taxpayers of this
State. | too, am a taxpayer, and
l believe have had a little insight
into the situation that perhaps
some other taxpayers have not had;
therefore, | am appealing to the
public through the medium of your
paper, Mr.. Editor, to give Some
thought and consideration to this
problem.
At a later date | would like to
give some of the plans that l have
in mind that | believe would be of
benefit to the men in this institu-
tion as we'll as to the taxpayers of
this tate.
A. J. BARNES,
Warden Arizona State Prison.
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