The Coolidge examiner., 1940-03-28
Gene Shute Warden
Arizon State Prison

state penitentiary, according TO
Warden Gene Shute.
An unprecedented number of
paroles and communication of sent
ences passed upon by the board of
pardons and paroles February II
when % prisoners were released
has failed to produce a single re-
port of parole violation. Usually
the board release only six or seven
men at a time.
Warden Shute is firm believer
in the parole system but advocates
shorter minimum and longer sent
ences for law violators.
Citing records, which show that
less than five per cent of realeased
prisoners violate provisions of their
paroles, the warden said: Casually
the fellow who is granted parole
is watching his step when he re-
Joins society. This is particularly
true in cases where a man has been
given a long maximum sentence. In
such instances he can be returned
to the prison for commission of
crime Or other violation of his pa
roe without another trial"
Warden Shute is of the opinion
sentences for similar crimes should
be more uniform. He cited a hypo-
thetical case: Two prisoners arrive
at the penitentiary, sentenced by
different judges for almost identl-
cal law violations. One faces a term
of a year and a day: the other three
to four years. The latter is a model
prisoner. the other a scOundrel who
causes prison officials no end OF
trouble.
When the model prisoner learns
he must serve at least three times
as long as the tough, unruly fellow
he is almost certain to turn sour
on society in general, the warden
said.
From long experience as a peace
officer and warden of the state prl-
son under two administrations, Mr.
Shute expresses disapproval of the
recently enacted minimum sentence
law and suggests that the board OF
pardons and paroles be given wide
discretionary powers.
"There comes a time in the pri'
son life of nearly every inmate
when he is in a frame of mind to
go straight" the warden said
"Those of us who are watching
them so closely and talk with them
so frequently, usually know when
these periods arrive. Then would
be the proper time to release pri-
soners. They would leave here de-
termined to make good by going
straight. Keeping them in prison
after these periods pass, merely
makes them sour on society to the
extent most of them don't particul-
arly care what happans after they
are finally turned loose"
The warden recalled a recent
case in which two youngsters ar
rived at the penitentiary to serve
sentences from 12 to 18 years.
"Under the present law" he point
ed out "the board of pardons ana
rard'es can't touch these cases un-
til the young fellows have served
minimum of II years. By that
time they will be little, if any
benefit to society. There can be
onrv a slim hope that they will
become law-abiding citizens.
"Had these youngsters been
meted a minimum sentence OF a
wear with a high maximum sent
ence. the board could have watch
ed them and after they had paid
a reasonable penalty for their
crime and were in the proper
frame of mind to win their way
back into the esteem of their rel
low men, they could be released
ANY slip-up on their part could re-
suit in their return to prison With
out the expense of a new trial 10
begin serving the reminder of the
long maximum term imposed by
the Judge who sentenced them"
Warden Shute is anything but a
He doesn't believe
in maudlin sympathy for law
violators. His creed is simple.
"Treat the men fairly he says,
"and you will win their respec'
and hold their obedience"
The warden was appointed by
Gov. Bob Jones January 2, 1889
in recognition of the remarkable
record he established in the office
during the administrations of the