| Show HOSPITAL INSTEAD OF JAIL american legion alms aims to secure lib erty of many ex service mon men now in prisons many former service men of the world war now in prison are believed to have haie committed the calmes for which they are held when physically or mentally unfit as a result of war service in the opinion of joseoh sparks chairman of the american legions national rehabilitation committee sparks has bas directed a survey by the legion of the former soldiers and sailors incarcerated for crimes in the penal institutions and Is reviewing these cases with a view of obtaining their release it if a til guental disability traceable to war conditions Is proven chairman sparks L Is of the opinion that many any of these men drifted into crime as a result of their physical condition following discharge from service sen ice he estimates that such men are confined in the country and seeks some way to bring relief to them as aa the problem Is of too great scope for the veterans bureau to handle it Is shocking to think that there are thousands of men from all walks of life confined for crimes that many of them did almost unknowingly because they were so removed from normal health and strength at the time we have made investigations in some states where conditions are worse than others and have found that many of the men should have been in hospitals instead of jail so BO bad Is their condition and the jail life has not helped he added experts of the veterans bureau declare that it Is remarkable that not more of the men are in jail because so BO many left army service with shattered nerves and were compelled to adjust to after war conditions dr stanley rinehart ni one of the veterans bureau specialists said the states must see to it that every service man in prison gets an opportunity port unity to have a hearing if ha deserves it or hospital treatment instead of a jail cell if this Is m what ha he needs this problem will mill be presented at the national convention of the american legion to be held in san francisco |
