ADULT PAROLE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WISCONSIN

• NCJ Number: 54967
• Author(s): H L WITMER
• Date Published: 1925
• Length: 225 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

THIS 1925 STUDY EXAMINES THE HISTORY OF PAROLE IN THE U.S. AND ENGLAND, THE THEORY AND RESULTS OF PAROLE IN THE U.S., AND THE PAROLE SYSTEM IN WISCONSIN AT THE STATE PRISON, REFORMATORY, AND INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR WOMEN.

Abstract

PAROLE IN THE U.S ORIGINATED IN NEW YORK AND WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REFORMATORIES AS PART OF THEIR PROGRAMS FOR REHABILITATING CRIMINALS. PAROLE WAS FIRST USED WITH JUVENILES. IN ENGLAND, PAROLE CAME LATER AND WAS USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRANSPORTING PRISONERS OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO VAN DIEMEN'S LAND (NOW TASMANIA), A CONVICT ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA. THERE ARE THREE ENGLISH TYPES OF PAROLE: PAROLE UNDER THE PENAL SERVITUDE ACT, RELEASE ON LICENSE AFTER THE CRIMINAL HAS SERVED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE SENTENCE, AND SUPERVISION DURING WHICH TIME THE RELEASED CRIMINAL MAKES MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE POLICE. BY 1925, MOST U.S. STATES HAD ADOPTED A PAROLE SYSTEM, AND 16 STATES INCLUDED PAROLE REQUIREMENTS STATING THAT CRIMINALS MUST SECURE EMPLOYMENT BEFORE RELEASE. ALL STATES HAVE CERTAIN PAROLE CONDITIONS OF CONDUCT AND VIOLATIONS OF THESE CONDITIONS ENTAIL RETURN TO PRISON. AT THE BASIS OF THE PAROLE CONCEPT LIE THREE DIFFERENT THEORIES: PAROLE SHOULD BE GRANTED AS A KIND OF REWARD FOR GOOD INSTITUTIONAL CONDUCT; PAROLE IS A NATURAL STEP IN A REHABILITATION PROCESS; AND PAROLE IS A TEST OF THE GOOD CONDUCT SHOWN IN PRISON. A PAROLE SYSTEM HAS THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF BEING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT, PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN REENTRY TO NORMAL LIFE, AND THE NATURAL END TO INDETERMINATE SENTENCES. IN WISCONSIN, PAROLE BEGAN WITH THE OPENING OF THE STATE REFORMATORY AND THEN EXTENDED TO THE STATE PRISON IN 1907 AND THE INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR WOMEN IN 1921. ALL PAROLING IS DONE BY THE STATE BOARD OF CONTROL. STATISTICS ARE GIVEN ON THE AGE, NATIONALITY, MARITAL STATUS, ALCOHOLIC HABITS, TYPES OF CRIMES, AND PAROLE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF INMATES AT THESE THREE STATE INSTITUTIONS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (DAG)