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An inmate of the reformatory for men 16 is eligible for parole at any time in accordance with rules established by the board of parole.17

16 Persons committed to the reformatory.-"Male persons between the ages of 16 and 25 years who are convicted of offenses for which they may be punished by imprisonment for a shorter period than life, either in the State prison or in a jail, may be committed to the reformatory if they seem to the trial court to be amenable to reformatory methods; but no justice of the peace shall commit any offender to the State reformatory. The judge imposing a reformatory sentence shall not fix the term unless it shall exceed 5 years, but shall impose a sentence of imprisonment in the reformatory." Conn. Gen. Stat. (1930) § 1830. "Any offender sentenced to the reformatory by a superior court for any offense punishable by imprisonment in the State prison may be detained in the reformatory not more than 5 years, unless he shall have been sentenced for a longer term, in which case he may be held for such longer term. Any offender sentenced to the reformatory for an offense for which the maximum punishment is a sentence to a jail. with or without a fine, may be detained in the reformatory not more than 2 years." Id. § 1831. "Any town, city, borough, police or common pleas court may sentence offenders to the reformatory. Any offenders so sentenced may be detained in the reformatory not more than 2 years. The limit of jurisdiction of the courts named in this section shall be for offenses, the punishment for which shall be a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment in the State prison for not more than 5 years or both." Id. § 1832. "Inmates of the Connecticut School for Boys between the ages of 14 and 21 years, whom the trustees of said institution desire to have transferred to the reformatory and whom the directors of the reformatory are willing to receive, may be so transferred. Offenders of this class may be detained at the reformatory for the same period for which, except for their transference to said reformatory, they could have been held at said school for boys." Id. 1833.

17 "No inmate will be paroled unless he has been a member of the first grade for a continuous period of 6 months and the following will be in effect with all inmates committed to the institution after January 1, 1917.

"An inmate who by law may be detained in the reformatory for a maximum term of 2 years may be considered for parole when he has served 1 year.

"An inmate who by law may be detained in the reformatory for a maximum term of 5 years may be considered for parole when he has served 2 years.

"An inmate who was sentenced by the trial court for a fixed term of not more than 10 years may be considered for parole when he has served 3 years. "An inmate who was sentenced by the trial court for a fixed term of more than 10 years may be considered for parole when he has served 4 years." Rules of the Board of Parole (Conn. Reformatory, 1930) No. 1.

Good-time deductions.-"Such inmates as may be held in the reformatory for a period of 2 years and are eligible for parole at the end of 1 year, a reduction of 1 month may be made for a perfect conduct record and a further reduction of 1 month may be granted for an unusual industrial record or for being a trusty for at least 9 months.

"Such inmates as may be held in the reformatory for a period of not more than 5 years and are eligible for parole at the end of 2 years, a reduction of 3 months may be granted for a perfect conduct record and an additional reduction of not more than 3 months for an unusual industrial record or being a trusty for more than 1 year.

"Such inmates who receive a definite sentence of more than 5 years may earn by the same means a reduction of time required before parole, but the total reduction for any such case shall not exceed 1 year." Id. No. 2.

An inmate of the reformatory for women 18 is eligible for parole after 9 months.19

Method of application for parole.-When an inmate of the State prison has served his minimum sentence and has remained in "first grade" for 6 consecutive months preceding the board meeting he is considered for parole; formal application is unnecessary.20

At the men's reformatory the usual practice is for the inmate to make application to the superintendent for a hearing. If the superintendent finds that the inmate is qualified for parole, he presents the case to the parole board.

At the reformatory for women recommendations as to the fitness of an inmate for parole after a period of 9 months are made by members of the institution staff who constitute the "classification committee."

Hearing: State prison.-The parole board meets at the prison once each month, usually for a 1-day session. Before the meeting, which is private, each member is provided with a history and brief statement of each case to be considered. Such statements are prepared by the prison parole office. Letters, petitions, and written arguments from interested persons are considered. Unsworn testimony is received from

18 Persons committed to the reformatory for women.—Any woman over 16 years of age may be committed to the State farm for women by any court of criminal jurisdiction if:

(1) She has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to the commission of a felony, or

(2) She has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to the commission of a misdemeanor, including prostitution, use of drugs, disorderly conduct. An unmarried woman between the ages of 16 and 21 years may be committed when found by a town, city, or borough court to be "in manifest danger of falling into habits of vice" or to be "leading vicious lives"

"Only such offenders may be committed to said institution as in the opinion of the trial court will be benefited physically, mentally, or morally by such commitment." No minimum sentence is imposed on a woman who is committed to the State farm. The duration of the commitent of such person, including the time spent on parole, may not exceed 3 years except where the maximum term of sentence specified by law for the crime for which the person was convicted exceeds that period. When the maximum sentence specified by law exceeds 3 years the trial court must set a maximum term for which the person committed may be held. Conn. Gen. Stat. (1930) § 1800; see also id. § 1817.

19 Id. 1801. The board of directors allows a hearing only after the inmate has served 9 months.

20Rules of the Board of Parole. (Conn. State Prison, 1923) No. 1.

the inmate, the warden, and the parole officers. An average of about 40 cases are considered at each session. The board acts by majority.21

In considering a case for parole the board takes into account a prisoner's conduct, history, character, capacity, habits, tendencies, attitude, potentialities and the effect of his parole upon the administration of justice.22

If parole is denied, rehearing is granted 1 year thereafter unless an earlier date is set by the board.28

The board of parole is directed to establish such rules and regulations for parole as it may deem necessary, and to enforce such rules and regulations. 24

Hearing: Men's reformatory.-The procedure of the reformatory parole board is similar to that of the prison parole board.25 At the reformatory, however, the institution physician and the parole officer sit with the board.

Hearing: State farm for women.-Investigation of prospective parolees is carried on constantly by the classification committee which meets every 2 weeks. This committee transmits its recommendations to the chairman of the parole committee of the board of directors of the institution through the directory of classification. Such recommendations are subject to the approval of the chairman of the parole committee of the board. Parole is granted to inmates of the prison only by action of the entire board of directors acting as a parole board.

Conditions for parole.-Upon the release on parole of an inmate from the State prison or reformatory for men, such inmate is provided with a complete outfit of clothing and $5.

21 Conn. Gen. Stat. (1930) § 6509.

Rules of the Board of Parole. (Conn. State Prison, 1923) No. 2.

231d. No. 3. This is subject to good-time deductions so that a first-grade prisoner would have a rehearing in 10 months at Wethersfield Prison and in 8 months at Osborn Farm.

24 Conn. Gen. Stat. (1930) § 6510.

25 Any inmate of the men's reformatory may be paroled by a majority of the reformatory board of parole, under such conditions and regulations as it may establish. Id. § 1836.

Efforts are made by institution officials to secure employment for every parolee.26 Certain conditions are specified in all parole agreements.2

27

An inmate of the State farm for women is paroled under the following conditions: (1) That she is in good physical condition and has ability to earn an honest living, (2) that she has a satisfactory institutional record based on the "credit" system, and (3) that she has a proper home to which she may go, or that suitable employment has been secured in advance by the parole department of the institution. Every woman paroled or discharged from the State farm is given, if the superintendent deems it best, suitable clothing, trans

A prisoner able to work will not be released on parole from the prison for men or the reformatory for men until suitable employment has been secured for him. Rules of the Board of Parole (Conn. State Prison, 1923) No. 4; Rules of the Board of Parole (Conn. Reformatory, 1930) No. 4.

The Connecticut Prison Association and the board of parole of the State prison for men are enjoined to make all reasonable efforts to secure employment for any convict paroled or discharged. Conn. Gen. Stat. (1930) § 6514.

"The following are the conditions in a parole agreement at the State prison for men and the reformatory for men:

"First. The prisoner shall proceed at once to his place of employment and report to his employer, whose name is given below.

"Second. Upon reporting to his employer he shall immediately make out a written report, addressed to the warden, announcing his arrival at his destination, and his written report must be endorsed by his employer.

"Third. He must not change employment, leave employment, enter into a marriage contract, or leave the State of Connecticut unless by permission of the warden, the parole agent, or a member of the board of parole, first obtained in writing.

"Fourth. He must make a written report on the last day of each month. This report must state how much money he had at the beginning of the month; how much he has earned during the month; how much he has expended, and for what, and how much he has on hand at the end of the month. If the prisoner has been idle during the month he must state the reason. He must also give any other information that will throw light upon his conduct and success during the month. These monthly reports must be endorsed by his employer.

"Fifth. He must abstain from the use of liquor in any form; he must avoid evil associations and improper places of amusement and recreation, and he must not carry or own firearms of any description.

"Sixth. He must respect and obey the laws cheerfully, and conduct himself in all respects as a good citizen.

"Seventh. In the event of sickness or loss of his position through any misfortune whatever, he must immediately report the fact in writing to the warden, or have the report made for him.

The members of the board of parole are interested in the subject of this parole. They will counsel and advise him as he may need, and will assist him in any reasonable way to reestablish himself in society. If he willfully violates the conditions of his parole he will be returned to the institution to serve his maximum term."

portation expenses, and not more than $5. Authority is conferred on the board of parole to establish such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary, setting forth the conditions upon which inmates may be discharged upon parole.28

When an inmate of the State farm for women is paroled and employment is secured for her, an agreement is made between the employer and the institution whereby the parolee is paid part of her salary and the remainder is paid into her account to be delivered to her upon her release.

Supervision. When any prisoner of the State prison is allowed to go at large on parole the board of parole must, within 1 week thereafter, cause notice of the parole release and the terms and conditions thereof to be sent to the State's attorney of the county in which the parolee was convicted and sentenced. If, in the opinion of the State's attorney, any prisoner so paroled needs supervision, the State's attorney

28 Conn. Gen. Stat. (1930) § 1801. At the State farm for women the following conditions are specified in an agreement for "home parole" : "1. She shall be in the legal custody of the State subject to return to the farm should the board of directors deem it advisable.

"2. She shall take up her residence with

therein until released by the parole officer.

"3. She shall not go out nights unless accompanied by

or some member of her family.

"4. She shall attend church service at least once on Sunday.

"5. She shall abstain from all forms of intoxicants.

and remain

"6. She is to understand that the management of the farm acts as guardian over her affairs and stands ready to assist her in any difficulty that may present itself.

"7. It is to be understood that the conditions of this agreement are subject to change by the board of directors."

If a woman inmate is released on "work parole" the following conditions are specified :

"1. She shall remain in the legal custody of the State subject to return to the farm should the board of directors deem it advisable.

"2. She is to be employed by

at

month wages, and to remain there until released by the parole officer.

per

"3. She is to have her time off in the afternoon in periods of time not to exceed 3 hours and to go out in the evenings only when accompanied by the family or someone of whom the parole officer approves.

"4. Her incoming and outgoing mail is to be sent to the parole officer for inspection and such friends as she may acquire must meet with the approval of the parole officer.

"5. She shall attend church service at least once on Sunday.

"6. Her wages will be sent monthly to the State farm for women, Niantic, Conn., checks to be made payable to Elizabeth Munger, superintendent, her earnIngs to be deposited in the bank to her account. It is understood by the employer that when wages are in arrears more than 2 months this ward may be removed after a week's notice.

"7. It is to be understood that the conditions of this agreement are subject to change by the board of directors."

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