In 1909, the Legislature of Pennsylvania enacted a law providing for Probation for some classes of adult offenders, and also for a Parole of criminals sentenced to the Penitentiaries of the State under the conditions of an Indeterminate Sentence. Under the Probation Act, the Courts have power to suspend the imposition of the sentence and to place the defendant on Probation on such terms and conditions as the Court may deem proper.
The Parole Law applied to the sentences of criminals sentenced to the Penitentiary on and after June 30, 1909. Two Members of The Pennsylvania Prison Society were very active in framing this law and in securing its passage. The Legislature of 1911 amended this law so as to render almost nugatory some of the provisions of the law with regard to the Indeterminate Sentence. The Chairman of our Committee on Legislation has ably discussed this subject in an article published in the Journal which was issued in November, 1911. The following statistics, furnished by Parole Officer, John McKenty, of the Eastern Penitentiary, show the operation of the law to the end of the year 1911.
| Number paroled since the law was effective | 128 |
| Number returned for failure to fulfill requirement | 15 |
| Number not reporting | 3 |
| Number of those paroled who have received final discharge | 10 |
| Number on Parole December 31, 1911 | 100 |
| Percentage of success | 85.9% |
These figures compare quite favorably with the results reported from other States in which this system has been for a longer period in vogue.
THE EASTERN PENITENTIARY.
Reports of the Members of the Acting Committee, appointed to visit the Eastern Penitentiary, show that during the year 1911 6405 visits to prisoners have been made. Many unreported visits have gladdened the prisoner in his lonely cell. Several of our members participate in the Gospel services on the Sabbath.
One of the prisoners remarked to the Secretary that in his opinion the work of visitation was the most important function of the Society. This has been the most effective part of our work from the first. Some of the men’s blocks are not visited so often as would be desirable. The women’s block is said to be over-visited. Several organizations have the privilege of sending visitors to the twenty-seven women now incarcerated, and while visitors are welcomed at suitable times and under proper conditions, yet it is readily recognized that these prisoners of the women’s block should have sufficient time to attend to their regular, but not onerous, duties as assistants in various lines of domestic employment.
Under the management of Warden Robert J. McKenty, the administration is to be commended. The discipline is firm, but kindly, and so long as the privileges granted are not abused, there is allowed a large amount of freedom within reasonable limits. Hence, in this institution, the visitor may note an unusually contented and orderly body of convicts.
RELIEF FOR PRISONERS WHEN DISCHARGED.
The expense of supplying needy prisoners with clothing at the time of their discharge from the Eastern Penitentiary has been almost entirely borne by this Society since 1896. For the six years prior to 1896, the Legislature appropriated on the average of $2490.00 annually to the Society, which thereupon assumed the expense of providing outfits for the prisoners at the time of their release. In 1895, the Governor refused to sanction the appropriation. No legislative grant of funds has been made since that time to the Society. Our late Honorary Secretary, John J. Lytle, who at that time was the General Secretary of the Society, with untiring energy solicited contributions from benevolent citizens to supply the prisoners when released with presentable clothing. His whole heart was in this work and nobly did he discharge what he deemed to be his duty to administer the charity in which our Society had been, up to that time, assisted by the State. We are still providing an outfit for discharged prisoners, although this aid is supplied by legislative appropriation practically in every other State of the Union. I append to this report a schedule showing what provision is made for prisoners at the time of their discharge from the various State Prisons. ([See page 38].)