West Virginia Penitentiary,
Moundsville, Jan. 1, 1901.
Dear Sir: Gratified that the generous people of West Virginia have
in response to my letters of appeal to them dated Jan. 20, 1899, for
donations of literature enabled me to build up a library for my convict
charges to 12,000 volumes of books and magazines, I desire to further
trespass on their generosity by asking for your support to bring about
another measure of reform, viz., a parole law.
The parole law is in force in a number of up-to-date state
penitentiaries with remarkable success, bringing protection and good
results to society. It saves trouble to prosecuting attorneys and
criminal judges, and enables convicts to gain their liberty solely
through their individual efforts. For instance, by virtue of the
criminal statutes a convict may be sentenced for the minimum of one
year or the maximum of five years. The criminal judge upon conviction
of the prisoner on trial imposes an indefinite sentence. The convict
after the expiration of one year may become eligible to parole if his
record is exemplary. Two reliable citizens are required to become
surety for the convict’s employment and future good conduct, then he is
paroled.
Upon violation of any of the parole conditions, he is returned to
prison to serve the maximum sentence. If the convict is a man of
family, he is enabled to provide for them; and if he is a single man,
he has a chance to become a respected member of society and no longer a
menace thereto. Respectfully yours,