Evening star., 1942-04-15
$500 Federal Prison
ParoIees Accepted
In Armed Forces
Public Agrees With
Policy OF Offenders
Serving Country
ny ROBERT c. HARPER.

Uf hVnEht ~ uAhFEh.
Some 1900 Federal prison PAROLES
have enlisted or been inducted into
the armed forces since laws pre-
viousiy barring them from military
service have been relaxed. IL was
learned today at the once OF the
Federal director OF prisons and the
FEDERAL Board of Parole.
In addition. several thousand Of
ehs 1900 Federal prison population
are In the minimum custody Offend
srs classification and may win
paroles to redeem themselves under
the ordeal Of FIRE.
Inquiries made at the ofices OF
the Army Recruiting Service and the
Selecttve Service Headquarters re-
vealed that the war has brought
about Q notable change In public
opinion concerning rehabilitation of
prison PAROLES.
Plan Commended.
Not only have no protests been
lodged with selective service author
tiles over Inducing paroled first
C~endcrs. but letters have been re-
ceiv-d there praisine abolition OF a
ban existing. until recent months,
since 1876.
The letters we have received say
these young men who erred once
deserve another chance" said an at
tache In Brig. Gen Lewis Hershey's
once. Other letters emphasize
that association with the rank and
file of the Nations man power In
Army life viii help restore these
men TO a useful place In society, or
at least give them the opportunity
70 fight for their country"
At the Army's recruiting head
quarters It was said no unfavorable
reaction had been received from
parents OF enlisted men, with each
enlistment case being considered on
its own merits,
Greater Thrills" Promised.
"A basic cause for youths running
Afoul OF Federal laws" remarked
an official at the Federal Board Of
Parole. "is the urge for thrills. Well,
the Army. Navy and Marine Corps
will offer worthy men a greater
thrill"
An act OF Congress authorizing
the Secretary Of War to accept pa
rolees for enlistment where previous
good character, prison attitudes and
outlook justified this exercise of
discretion paved the road to re-
habilitation previously closed to for
mer prison inmates.
However, the bars have not been
let down and will not be lowered to
permit the definitely anti-social
prisoners. such as kidnapers. COM
mercial white-slavers, perverts and
degenerates. TO obtain paroles and
apply for duty in the Nations night
ing ranks, II was emphasized al
Federal Parole Board offices.
Policy Laid Down.
On this subject q formal ruling
by the board says:
Those undergoing sentences for
commission of vicious crimes who in
the considered judgment of the Fed
eral Board of Parole are imbued
with pronounced anti-social attri-
butes and who themselves could not
be released other than through pa
role except at great peril to social
order, will not be extended parole
under any circumstances"
Many a youngster from a good
family has landed In Federal prison
because he took an automobile with
out the owners permission, ran it
across a State line and abandoned
II. q Federal criminal offense, 1t was
pointed out. The Parole Board says
It is studying all the factors in
volved, including reports from the
prison chaplain. educator, psychol-
ogist. psychiatrist. recreation officer
and warden. before paroling the first
offenders.
Potential Heroes.
Those young men who commit
minor Federal crimes have all the
reactions. likes and dislikes and
emotions OF the rest OF us" re-
marked an Official at the prison
directors Office They are not sent
to prison to be punished; their
punishment came when the judge
pronounced sentence Our job is to
help guide them back to useful
places,
Before this war Is over, you'll
And decorations for bravery on the
uniforms OF young men who erred
once against the civil laws and went
on to redeem themselves and win
the respect of others under the
deadly baptism of FIRE"