Concerning Jails

• Published date: 01 April 1931
• DOI: 10.1177/003288553101100203
• Date: 01 April 1931
• Subject Matter: Articles

of such legislative action were John A. Phillips, President of the State
Federation of Labor; Mrs. Percy C. Madeira, Jr.; Miss Florence L. San-
ville ; Major Romanus Fellman, Warden of the Westchester County
Prison, East View, New York; Mrs. Margaret Kulp, representing the State
Federation of Women’s Clubs, and Dr. B. L. Scott.
Senator Woodward has introduced Senate Bill 902 which provides
an appropriation of $100,000 to start the first state prison farm. This
bill has been sent to the Senate Committee on Appropriations and it is
hoped that developments will be forthcoming on both of these measures.
Senate Bills 613, 614, 615 and 616, introduced by Ilonorable Samuel
W. Salus, of the 2nd District have been referred to the Senate Committee
on Judiciary General. These bills would create a State Board of Parole
as an administrative function in the Department of Welfare, transferring
to such a Board the supervision of parolees from state penal institutions,
such supervision now being lodged in the Board of Pardons through the
Department of Justice.
It is the firm belief of The Pennsylvan.ia Prison Society that parole
is a social function and to be effective, should be based upon a scientifi~
study of the individual and his environment. Parole does not belong
in the department concerned primarily with the processes of law and the
administration of justice. If the contributions of scientific and social
knowledge are to be utilized by a state parole system, such a parole or’
ganization should be lodged in a department which either is or can. he
equipped for the purpose of using such knowledge.
Members and friends of The Pennsylvania Prison Society are urged
to communicate with their Senators and Assemblymen in behalf of the
five measures which have been sponsored by this Society. They all are ifl
keeping with a progressive and forward movement, not only in the field
of penal affairs, but in social legislation. Pennsylvania must not lag III
such a procession, but because of...