The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-04-07
has never had a parole

Maryland has never had a parole
scandal.
The current outcroy against abuses
of parole, the Systematically nurtured
public impression that most serious
crimes are committed by paroled of
fender, the frequently repeated
charge that professional criminals
with political pull or money can wran-
gle their way out of prison with the
connivance of weak or corrupt parole
authorities of these are justi-
fed in our State.
Does this mean that we are blessed
with perfect parole system? The an
swer is an emphatic mol"
Trained Specialists Needed
On the contrary, we have almost no
parole system at all. Our present able
Parole Commissioner, Mr.. j. Cook
man Boyd, would be the first to admit
that he does not have available a suf-
ficient corps of trained specialists to
assist him in reaching his conclusions,
and the small staff of parole officers
is kept busy with supervisory activi-
ties.
1t is only the realistic recognition of
this fact by my predecessors and my
self and our consequent too-sparing
use of the power to release prisoners
on parole that has saved the situation.
| believe, sincerely, however, and as
sert positively, that Maryland ought to
have real parole system and ought to
use it literally. Literally, but wisely!
Discusses Alternatives
What are the alternatives? In the
first place, most men sent to prison
COME out again. This is right, and it
is Inevitable Society would shudder
at the suggestion that every criminal
be executed; lifetime incarceration for
every offender is equally unthinkable
So prisoners must be released, many
are being released every day. What
then? Shall we turn them loose, scot
free, with the pious hope that they
will go straight? That's what we do
now, with nearly all of them. And
about half do go straight-straight
back to another crime Or shall We
Tree them conditionally, on parole?
Isn't the answer self-evident?
Can any one doubt that society will
receive better protection, that the war
against crime will be fought more eff
fectively, if the man coming out Of
prison is carefully watched, his efforts
10 rehabilitate himself assisted, but
lis first steps back toward crime firm
y checked?
System Must Be Modern
That is what real parole must be
both restraining influence and a
helping hand. l am all for it, because
| am in dead earnest in my desire to
reduce the number Of criminals, to di-
minish the flood Of crime. This is not
sentimentality. 1t is hard, practical
common sense.
But this kind of parole is not pos,
sible without a modern parole system
We can have such a system in Mary
land without attempting untried eX-
periments or venturing into untrodden
fields. Perhaps we are fortunate that
we have delayed so long and allowed
other States to blaze the trail, for we
can profit by their mistakes and ac-
complish almost at once what 1t has
taken them a generation to develop.
We are fortunate, too, that our
problem has been studied so carefully
and out future path charted so clearly.
Legislation Recommended
AS long ago as in July, 1886, there
was submitted to me the report Of the
Prison Industries Reorganization Ad-
ministration covering its thorough
study Of our whole penal system. |
have Just read again Chapter / Of this
report dealing with both probation
and parole. Here, in ten pages, Is not
only convincing proof that our present
system is inadequate and out-moded,
but also a program for its develop
ment along modern lines.
Following the receipt Of this report
appointed my own parole committee,
headed by Mr.. c. Delano Ames. This
committee made a further and indie
pendent study, and on December 30
1886, submitted its report recommend
ing specific legislation.
It is not my purpose, nor would 1t
be practicable in this brief statement
to do more than to outline the general
principles and to state the objectives
of the legislation necessary to bring
our State into line on this extremely
important subject. Suffice is to say
those upon whom will fall the burden
Of preparing such legislation will find
the spade-work done or them in ad-
vance in the two admirable reports to
which have referred.