Concerning Parole in Illinois

Abstract

Parole administration is the subject of adverse criticism in almost every state of the union. Much of it has been justified, even though the problem of parole has been misinterpreted and misunderstood. The success of parole administration depends not only upon its administrators, but upon a reasonable and informed public opinion. Prodigious promises and meager performances have been too common. In some states parole administration is a farce. In others it is so interwoven with politics as to be a menace. In a few states conscientious efforts are being made to administer it in the interests of the public welfare. The time has come to begin a campaign of education so that the public may understand what is being done; to be made acquainted with the fact that parole is a step forward in penology; that it is sound in theory, although in many instances its administration is bad. One of the difficulties has been the secrecy as to method, the political appointment of incompetents and the failure to realize that it is time to break down the traditional attitude of secrecy and give intelligent, constructive general information, keeping in mind that the basic idea is to guard the interests of society rather than cater to the convenience and comfort of the parolee. The changing time compels new objectives in human relationships. We must not cling to preconceptions when new conditions force their abandonment. We must not drug ourselves with ideals in an endeavor to escape realities. We must have tact, patience and human understanding and do some sound social thinking. New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California and Illinois have organizations approaching real parole administration but there is still room for improvement in the building of careful and effective agencies of administration. They have all changed and improvised but none has been completely divorced from political favoritism nor established independence and integrity in administration. In a report to Governor Horner of Illinois I have suggested a plan to create a parole board which could not be dominated by poli-