Suggestion to Parole Life Prisoners After Ten Years The "North-China Daily News" learns on very geod authority that schemes are xt present under consideration to grant parole to prisoners whose behaviour in the Municipal Gaol is found to be good. Though no definite plans have been worked out, the problem of overcrowding in the Ward Road Gaol being found a serious one.
The result is that an official communication has been addressed. by Mr. E. Cunningham, Senior Consul, to Dr. John C. H. Wo, acting president of the Shanghai Pro-Visional Court, in connection with the matter.
We have been unable to secure an oficial copy of the letter sent to Judge Wa, bat the Chinese ress states that this contained 'a suggestion that Judge Wu should approach the Kiangsu Provincial Government and the Judicial Yuan. of the National Government with a recommendation that, beginning' from October 1, 1929, criminals: sentenced to life imprisonment oF for terms exceeding 20 years might: be released after ten years, provided they have good prison reco that they shall serve the unexpired Portions of such sentences should they be convicted again within the period of such unexpired terms.
Chien Chia-shang, chief of the Dealing this matter, Mr. Judicial department of the Kiangsu. Provincial Government, informed a representative of the "Sinwanpao" that the Provincial Government had asked the Judicial and Admi tive Yuans for instructions these suggestions, but the National Government opined that the Ministry of Justice docs not have the right or the power to alterations in the Chinese Criminal Code in this connection because the jeode has been adopted and> prommulgated by the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang, so any alterations in the code must be passed both by the National Government and the Kuomintang C.E.C.
However, it is learned that the suggestion was made in conformity with the Chinese criminal code which empowers the Minister of Justice to remit sentences passed on convicts in "cases where he thinks fit. Whether this authority is put into Practice by the Minister in question we do ndt know, but it does not extend to the International Settle ment. Facing the problem of overcrowding in the municipal gaols, the authorities are believed to have made this suggestion in order that the Settlement should fall into conform. ity with Chinese law int respect, the suggestion being that the Minister should delegate his power to the president of the Shanghai Provisional Court.
The scheme for the release of prisoners on probation, er granting convicts conditional discharges after certain portion of their sentences have been served, provided their behaviour is satisfactory, is of the greatest interest and should do much towards relieving congestion in the koels and preventing convicts from relapsing into crime as a livelihood. Itis a scheme by which such persons may be supervised after their dis-
Conditional releases, or paroles, may be revoked in the ease of con-viers being sentenced for fresh of-in which case they lose the benefits of the period which they have spent out of gaol.
Recommendations for conditional release shall be made by the Gaol Warden and police authorities and the Senior Consul's Deputy who visits the prisons and they must be endorsed by the president of the Provisional Court. Certificates of release are to be given and a copy shall be sent to the police station of the district where they propose to live, which will mean that convicts will remain under police supervision and will report regularly to the police.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.