For the crimes of treason and of murder in the first degree, the
sentence in this State is either death or life imprisonment. For
persons convicted of felony for the third time (habitual criminals) and
those found guilty of murder in the second degree or of rape upon a
child under ten years of age, the punishment is life imprisonment. All
other persons convicted of felony are subject to the provisions of the
indeterminate sentence and parole law of 1897 and its amendments. This
law applies to men over 16 years of age and women over 17. While it is
called “indeterminate,” it is in reality limited by the minimum and
maximum terms prescribed by statute for specified crimes.
The law is in force in the State Prison at Michigan City, the
Reformatory at Jeffersonville and the Woman’s Prison at Indianapolis.
In the Woman’s Prison the parole board includes the superintendent and
the physician in addition to the board of trustees; in the State Prison
and Reformatory it is made up of the members of the board of trustees
only. The parole boards are “prohibited from entertaining any other
form of application or petition for the release upon parole or absolute
discharge of any prisoner” than the application of the prisoner
himself. They may parole prisoners who have served their minimum term
and are believed capable of becoming law-abiding citizens. In granting
paroles, the boards take into consideration not only the applicant’s
record as a prisoner, but his ability to maintain himself if free and
the sentiment of the community from which he came. The boards are
allowed a wide latitude in granting paroles and in withdrawing paroled
prisoners from liberty. All their acts are guided by what they believe
to be the best welfare both of the prisoner and of society.
Ordinarily paroled prisoners remain under supervision for at least one
year. This is an adopted rule and not a requirement of law. They are
visited frequently by the parole agents and are required to report
regularly. No one is permitted to leave the institution until a place
of employment has been found for him.
Sixteen years’ experience shows that out of every 100 prisoners, 57
fulfill their obligations and are discharged from supervision, 26
violate their parole, 2 die, the sentence of 6 expires during the
parole period and they are automatically discharged; the remaining 9
are under supervision at a given time, reporting regularly.
The percentage of parole violators varies but little in the three
institutions: 765 out of 2,916, or 26.2 per cent. at the State Prison;
1,198 out of 4,670, or 25.6 per cent. at the Reformatory; 61 out of
213, or 28.6 per cent. at the Woman’s Prison.
The financial report of the paroled prisoners makes an interesting
showing. Their earnings during the time they reported, up to September
30, 1913, amounted to $2,142,253.31; expenses, $1,774,672.42; savings,
$367,580.89. In other words, these men and women, instead of costing
the State an average of $172.00 a year each (the average per capita
cost of maintenance in the two State prisons and the reformatory for
the year 1913), have been released under supervision and have earned
their own living and at the time they ceased reporting had on hand or
due them savings averaging nearly $50.00 each. This is not regarded as
the most important result of the system, but it certainly is a highly
valuable feature.
Taking up the institutions separately, the records show that the State
Prison has paroled 2,916 men since the law went into effect, of whom
1,688 have been discharged, the sentence of 134 expired during the
parole period, 515 violated their parole and were returned to prison,
250 parole violators are at large, 51 died and 278 are reporting.
Their financial reports indicate earnings amounting to $823,136.69;
expenses, $629,800.69; savings, $193,336.00.
The Reformatory Reports 4,670 men paroled, of whom 2,666 have been
discharged, the sentence of 295 expired during the parole period, 609
violated their parole and were returned to prison, 589 parole violators
are at large, 78 died and 433 are reporting. Their financial reports
indicate earnings amounting to $1,315,642.76; expenses, $1,143,078.54;
savings, $172,564.22.
The Woman’s Prison reports 213 women paroled, of whom 105 have been
discharged, the sentence of 23 expired during the parole period, 35
violated their parole and were returned to prison, 26 parole violators
are at large, 7 died and 17 are reporting. Their financial reports
indicate earnings amounting to $3,473.86; expenses, $1,793.19; savings,
$1,680.67.