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control of the same central agency of state administration. The sentence of the court is not completely executed until the last hour of the period for which the convict is held answerable to the prison authorities. Wherever, in Europe, convicts are con- ditionally released they remain in custody of the central ministry of justice, a judicial and administrative agency. Of course, the officers and agents of each prison should always, as now, be the persons charged with the immediate care of each paroled con- vict; but the final decision should still rest with the central office.
4. Supervision. A few words of interpretation and explana- tion seem necessary to prevent misunderstanding.
Your committee has made no recommendations in relation to "supervision," because that is of itself a large and important subject. We believe in supervision, both by the state itself and by the regulated, legally authorized agency of citizens and vol- untary associations. In a free state and under republican insti- tutions the cordial and sympathetic co-operation of citizens, under suitable regulation, is highly useful and desirable. With increasing wealth, leisure, intelligence, and philanthropy the government can count on a wiser and stronger service from competent and devoted men and women.
Among the most conspicuous and promising methods of organizing and directing this voluntary service of " honor offices " we mention : The unpaid state boards of charities and correction already known in many of our commonwealths ; local commit- tees of visitors, authorized by law to inspect and report to the governor or legislature, to instruct and inspire public opinion, and to co-operate with officials in the care of prisoners and their families ; prison societies, as in New York, for the study of prison science, for visiting and inspecting establishments of correction, and for directing the humane efforts of the community into the most useful channels.
To this we may add the state conferences of charities and correction, whose committees and representatives may render valuable service in the prisons and in connection with the forma- tion of public opinion and its embodiment in legislation.
