POLICE   DEPARTMENT
 

GRIME PREVENTION  METHODS.

HELPING EX-CONVICTS.

For years men out of prison have complained that the police "hounded"
them, that they were never given a real chance to make good. To correct this
complaint as far as possible, I spoke to the prisoners in Sing Sing about a year
ago, and told them that If any ex-convlct would come to Police Headquarters
and show that he wanted to lead an honest life, he would not be "hounded,"
and. In addition, he would be helped in getting a position where he could earn
an honest living. Police officers delivered this same message in other prisons
and reformatories.

Since April 1, 1916, 176 felons who had served their terms have come to
this office. The United States was the birth place of 95, Russia of 11, Italy of 6,
Austria of 5, Germany of 4, while 55 didn't seem to know where they had been
born. Twenty-seven were of American parentage; 26, of Jewish ; 11, of Irish ;
6, of German; and 2 each of Swedish and Italian; and 4 colored. We could
not ascertain the parentage of 55.

On the average they had been in prison more than twice each, and they
had been convicted for every variety of crime; the greatest number of convic¬
tions were for burglary, but robbery, homicide, felonious assault, pocket picking
were also included, as well as forgery, drug selling, embezzlement, white slavery
and rape.

Jobs were found for all; for a good many of them we had to find several
jobs. We have tried to handle each case on its individual merits, and we try to
put men In places where they will be as little as possible exposed to the kind
of temptation they yielded to before. Some times It takes a week or more to
find a position, but the man Is provided for in the meantime. Sometimes it
Is necessary to provide food and lodging for a man for a week after the job
has been obtained or until he receives his first pay. Every effort is made to
find work that the particular men can do and earn enough money to support
himself and his family. Employers are always told the facts. This Is no
more than fair to them; and it relieves the man from the haunting fear of
being exposed, and discharged. We keep in touch until we are satisfied that he
Is getting along satisfactorily. There Is no definite period of time; and very
seldom is a case considered ready for closing until the man has been working
for at least four months.

We have not found employers as a class anxious to employ these men,
and this is not to be wondered at; conviction for felony Is not per se a reas¬
suring evidence of character. Other things being equal, people prefer, and
properly, to employ men whose records are clean, who are deserving for what
 

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