PAROLE SYSTEM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1912, Page 4

PAROLE SYSTEM.

FOR FIRST OFFENDERS. Following the 'example o£ Mr. Oswald West, the Democratic .Governor of the State of Oregon, . Justice. Crairi, of the Criminal Coutt' 6f New York, has 'adopted a new;nifethod of dealing with first offender*,- fo "as to'enoou'rage them to keep out of the clutches of the law. Judge Crain?s .practice- is (says tbe New York correspondent ' of ,the . London Chronicle) to allow all first offenders for crimes less than .murder, to give their parole that "they will live an honest 'life and occasionally report themselves to the authorities. The judge not only has suspended sentences ill these cases, but has personally given his assistance in finding -employment fdr the prisoners he paroles. As an example of how well the new system acts, 140 first offenders who were on parole Were summoned to report themselves recently. They included burglar?, forgers, and highwaymen. Out of the number summoned 126 presented themselves, while eight, who could not leave their employment, weie represented by friends who came to speak for them. , ' All were, able to show that they were making an 'honest living, and many thanked tfce' judge for. hi* humane treatment of them, and fiaid that it was the first time that they had ever had,- "a decent chance." >