AMERICAN PRISON SYSTEM

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 June 1926, Page 7

AMERICAN PRISON SYSTEM

TIGHTENING UR OF PAROLE EFFECT ON OFFENDERS’ PLEAS GAOLS FILLED TO OVERFLOWING. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 10.5 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, June 26. The unusual phenomenon of hundreds of criminals now facing trial at Chicago altering their picas of not guilty to guilty, or voluntarily offering confessions, has occurred there during the last fortnight. This was the result of impending changes in the parole system, under which convicts will be allowed only very little, time off for good behaviour. Bing Sing, America’s most noted gaol, has, Avithin the last three days, bcon filled to overflowing, the occupants now numbering 1561, the largest number in ten years. And the total is expected to reach 1800 before the middle of next week. The capacity of the cells is onlv 1540. The parole system under the new law will keep an offender gaoled for a year, while previously he would have served only three months if well behaved; while a man with a ten years’ sentence wil bo compelled to serve eight years four months, wdiere previously he -would have been released after five years for good behaviour. The new system becomes effective on Wednesday.