PAROLE CRIMINALS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 74, 17 January 1947, Page 6

PAROLE CRIMINALS

NEW YORK’S “TOUGH MEN” OVER 700 DECORATED When Sam B returned to the United States after 27 bombing missions as tail gunner in a big warplane over Europe, one of the first things he did officially was to report to his parole officer. He was one of New York State’s 3,656 paroled criminals in the armed services, states the Christian Science Monitor. On that visit he showed his parole offcer an Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, a citation for coolness and skill from his commanding officer, and a Good Conduct Ribbon. “I’m prouder of that ribbon than any other decoration,” he said. “Think of it—me—Sam B with a Good Conduct Ribbon. Ain’t that something now!” The New York State Division of Parole regarded it as something to record with pride in the new report, “New York’s Parolees Fight for Their Country,” which has just been issued by Davis Dressier, Executive Director.

Sam , it seems, had been his town’s “bad boy,” and had been arrested .many times for stealing, annoying people, starting fights and even breaking one probation by theft. He tried to enlist but the State Division of Parole was unable to give Selective Service assuraffce he would make a reliable soldier. Finally he made it. He became an Air Corps sergeant. Despite the dangers he risked, Sam B is grateful to the Air Corps. “It let him prove to himself that he can behave” the parole division observed. Thief Turns “Detective”

John X had a different kind of story. As a civilian he was a thief. He v was sent to prison for larceny, and paroled. He secured a good job, was placed in charge of a cash register.

Then came the Army. John was given a job in an Army Post Exchange. The P. X. had plenty of business, but the cash register didn’t show it.

John X knew the tricks of men who rob a cash register and knew what to do to stop the thieving. He was officially commended for his “fine work as a detective.” Not many parolees from New York were accepted by the Navy. One, Downing—a first offender in prison, became a petty officer first class in charge of a fireboat in the European theatre. The boat was frequently under fire. Later he was made second in command of a unit of 21 men and three boats. For his work in this role he was commended by Admiral Harold H. Stark for bravery in action and for conduct exceeding the call of duty. The New York State Division of Parole does not accept the hundreds of stories of courageous and successful parolees in the armed services as typical. “Not evei’y parolee made a successful soldier, nor was every parolee a great hero,” the Division agreed. But approximately 90 per cent, of the men acquitted themselves with credit.

The figures showed that of the 3565 New York parolees accepted for duty in the services, 1473 had come from the State’s prisons, 2057 from reformatories and 35 from institutions for defective delinquents.

Of this number, 211 were declared delinquent in the armed services, but 42 had their delinquencies cancelled. Twenty-three were returned to New York penal institutions, and 12 to penal institutions in other States, 134 remaining in the control of the services.

Against this blot on the record, the State Division of Parole found that 512 parolees received Good Conduct Ribbons, 96 the Purple Heart, 19 Distinguished Service Cross, 9 the Silver Star Medal, 6 the Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 the Soldiers Medal, 36 the Bronze Star Medal, 13 the Air Medal, 25 the Arrowhead, and 50 the Distinguished Unit Badge. Many received promotions in the services.