Page images
PDF
EPUB

Jaq IT IS WISER AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO SAVE CHILDREN THAN TO PUNISH CRIMINALS

[ocr errors][merged small][graphic][merged small][graphic][merged small][subsumed]

¶ We Advocate the Establishment of a JUVENILE COURT in every State in the Union. AGENTS are NOT Authorized to represent Local Juvenile Courts or to accept Donations for any purpose.

[blocks in formation]

"Entered as Second-Class Matter Aug. 28th 1903 at the Post Office at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3rd 1879."

[merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

OBJECTS OF THE JUVENILE COURT RECORD

The object of The Juvenile Court Record is to disseminate the principles of the Juvenile Court throughout the United States, and, in fact, the entire world.

When the Juvenile Court was first established the sociologists of the entire country stood by watching anxiously the outcome of this new departure in childsaving methods. It was realized that a medium was needed whereby the results accomplished by the Juvenile Court might be set forth in an intelligent manner. The Juvenile Court Record stepped into the breach and has devoted its pages exclusively to news of the various juvenile courts. As a result of the publicity thus given to the foundation principle and routine work of the Cook County Juvenile Court other States have passed juvenile court laws, and bills are being prepared in nearly every State in the Union to be presented at the next sessions of the Legislatures of the various States providing for similar legislation.

PLEASE NOTE! ALL agents for the Juvenile Court Record carry credentials.

The agent presenting this paper to you is authorized to sell single copies at 10c, and to take annual subscriptions at $1.00 per year.

This paper is published only as an exponent of Juvenile Courts.

[blocks in formation]

Probation Work in the Nation's Capital.

Zed H. Copp, Chief Probation Officer, Washington, D. C.

How It Began.

Probation de facto began in Washington eight years ago. It originated in the master mind of Commissioner MacFarland and was concurred in by the judges of the police court and the Board of Children's Guardians. It was legalized a year later and a probation officer appointed, who served under the direction of the above mentioned board, to whose custody the courts committed to probation. Five years passed, during which formative methods

worked out a definite system for efficient probation. It was early apparent in the organization of the work that a separate court for juveniles was an essential factor, and united effort resulted in the establishment of the present court two years ago.

2,500 Children Given a

New Start.

Within the last eight years 16,000 children have received the benefits of the "kindlier administration" of the law. Of these 2,500 have been placed on probation, many of whom have already reached successful adult age.

normal

The range of offenses is as wide as the limits of the law. Larceny always leads, disorderly conduct closely follows and assault is not far behind. Then come a host of "regulations" which are as antagonistic to a child as confinement to a meadow lark. Criminal statistics are always mute witnesses to some one's delinquency, whether it be state, family or individual. The child offender is a reproach to law and society. He is an inhabitant of earth by no will or wish of his own, and came helpless and ignorant of law, civilization, language and custom. He brought a pure heart and mind and the possibilities of a successful life. These were entrusted to a parent to fill with the elements which produce nobleness, wisdom and vigor. The

William.

average parent, from age and experience with good and evil, is well qualified to do that work. Family affection, ambition and commercial expectation are sufficient incentives to do the work well. Now if it be done well all ends well.

The Delinquent Parent.

But what of the child of the delinquent parent? Shall it go on indefinitely reproducing its delinquencies generation after generation until a benevolent Providence cuts off its kind? No, a thousand times no. The duty of the hour in such cases is for the state to supply the deficiency. Just what form this should take to produce the best results is yet purely experimental. Race and geography must largely determine the lines to be followed looking toIward the ideal. As nature really never makes a mistake that child will best develop which is most nursed by her. Cities, therefore, being most unlike nature, have the child delinquent as a probiem peculiar to themselves.

[graphic]
[graphic]

The Right Kind of

Probation Officer. The methods tested by time and proved by experience which have given the best results have been those generally patent to the work everywhere. A thorough investigation is made of the home and habits of each case ere it is decided by the court. This first acquaintance with the home and the child almost always determines the future value of the probation officer. If he thinks common courtesy a stranger to the hovel and forgets his politeness and is harsh in language and hard in spirit his after usefulness is measurably destroyed. That home will always retain a vivid picture of the man as a tentacle of the octopus of the court to be feared and shunned. But if he be considerate of the poor, discretely sympathetic and judiciously optimistic, he will seem like a minister from the temple of justice to be loved, trusted and obeyed.

Frank.

The Court and the Child.

When the court has sentenced to probation a careful record is made of all the data relating to the child and its home, and all. subsequent matter in the case until it is closed. Before going home the boys have explained to them the evil effects of alcohol and tobacco, and are given an opportunity to pledge themselves to abstain from their use until they reach the age of majority. Ninety-eight per cent readily take the pledge and most of them faithfully keep it. They are told in a few brief words that the Bible is the text-book on the law of success and happiness and that a knowledge of its teaching is essential to their real welfare; consequently they must faithfully attend the church of their

Zed H. Copp, Chief Probation Officer, Washington, D. C.

choice. The reason for school attendance is carefully gone over and regularly required.

If the child has reached the working age, the dignity of labor is set forth, and he is aided to a proper calling. Bad companions must be "cut out," and "the street" must be avoided one hour after dark. Theaters of the lower orders are strictly forbidden and pool-rooms are under the ban. Indeed the child goes forth clad in the glories of noble resolves and lofty ambitions which loving, patient, faithful work by the probation officer fixes into life and habit. He is visited as often as possible, and reports twice a month. The school children come Saturdays and those working on Sundays.

KANSAS CITY, MO.

THE JUVENILE IMPROVEMENT CLUB TO BEGIN AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN.

Preventive and Constructive Work Its Object-Aid to Be Given to Homes for Boys and Girls, Night Schools and Playgrounds.

A pamphlet outlining the purposes of the Juvenile Improvement club has been prepared to be sent to prospective subscribers to the $10,000 fund. These pamphlets, together with a circular letter, are to be sent out Tuesday, when the active campaign for the money will begin. The members of the finance and executive committees will also make as many personal calls as possible.

The pamphlet commends the work of the juvenile court but states that the chief purpose of the club is to keep children out of it. In other words, its business is to be chiefly preventive and constructive. Wherever the environment of a child is such as would breed immoral and criminal instincts the environment should be changed before it has its effect on him.

To Co-operate With All Efforts.

The club means to lend its strength to every influencee now working in the city toward juvenile improvement and the purpose of its fund is to make it most effective in this. Its principal lines of activity will be boys' clubs, boys' hotels, working girls' homes and homes for negro girls, night industrial schools, playgrounds and outing and recreation clubs. It is pointed out that only four or five members of the boys' clubs now existing have ever been in the juvenile court. The pamphlet also refers to the boys' hotel at Admiral boulevard and Locust street, established by the club, in which twenty-two working boys less than 16 years old are now living under good influences.

[graphic]

Objects of the Club.

The circular reads:

The Juvenile Improvement club is undertaking to raise the sum of $10,000 to be used in saving unfortunate children in Kansas City. The money will be expended for the following purposes:

First-In aiding the Boys' hotel. Twenty homeless boys under 16 are boarding at the hotel. Last month they paid $143 for their board and lodging. The expense for the month was $187. We must count on a small deficit each month, as the boys are paying all they can afford.

Second-There is a great need for suitable clubrooms for the street boys. We desire to help Mr. Holt's club at Eighteenth and College avenue, where 125 boys are now enrolled and as many more are on the waiting list, but cannot be taken in on account of the meager accommodations. We must have a club room in the "North end." The Elks' club has given us the use of the club gymnasium for the winter and more than 100 boys, who would otherwise be on the streets, are spending their evenings there. We wish to assist the club already started at the Franklin institute, and to establish a club at Sheffild, and in the West bottoms, and in other localities that may need them.

For a Negro Girls' Home.

Third-There is no place in Missouri where delinquent negro girls can be sent. The delinquent colored girls are becoming a menace to the city. The colored people are raising $700 to help equip a place for detaining these girls we must furnish the balance of the money. When the place is ready the county will give $10 per month for each girl sent there, and a negro probation officer will be appointed.

We estimate that to carry out these and other plans will require an expenditure of $10,000. We respectfully solicit your subscription to this fund. Checks should be made payable to Arthur L. Jelley or Hughes Bryant.

Finance Committee-Hughes Bryant, chairman; R. A. Long, Charles D. Mill, C. A. Young, C: V: Jones:

Executive Committee-Hon. H. L. McCune, chairman; Hon: H: M: Beardsley, Rev. Daniel McGurk; Dr. E. L: Mathias, Rev: Carles Moore, H: J: Haskell, Arthur L. Jelley.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

JUVENILE COURT REPORT.

Juvenile Court Officer L. H. Putnam has submitted to Judge N. B. Feagin his report for the year 1907. A total of 417 delinquent juvenile cases were docketed during the year, against a total of 510 cases during the previous year of 1906, or a decrease of about 20 per cent. These cases in detail are as follows:

Probation, 219; Industrial School, 10; homes secured. 11; country relatives, 9; off docket, 2; not guilty, 21; nol prossed, 11; fined, 75; bound over to higher courts, 7; colored reform school, 26; Daly's farm (colored), 25. Total, 417. The division of cases is as follows:

[merged small][graphic]
[blocks in formation]

PORTLAND, OREGON.

REPORT OF JUVENILE COURT.

Sixty Cases Considered by Tribunal During February. Judge Gantenbein, of the Juvenile Court, issued the following report on the work of that tribunal during February. While the work is constantly increasing, it is the court's policy to give but little publicity to the individual cases, and to report at the beginning of each month the work done during the preceding month. The number and character of cases last month follows:

Number of children brought into court by citation, boys, 37; girls, 19; total, 56. Brought into court for second and third offense, boys, 4. Delinquents, boys, 35; girls, 9; total, 44. Dependents, boys, 6; girls, 10; total, 16.

Ages of children-Ten years and under, 15; 11 to 13 years inclusive, 12; 14 years, 12; 15 years, 9; 16 years, 7; 17 years, 5; total, 60.

Character of delinquency-Assault and battery, 1; larceny, 15; immorality, 4; associating with immoral persons, 2; malicious mischief, 6; incorrigible, 8; running away, 2; other causes, 6; total, 44.

Causes of dependency-Desertion of parents, 2; poverty, 5; other causes, 9; total, 16.

Disposition of cases-Continued, 4; dismissed for want of jurisdiction, 2; dismissed on hearing without other action than warning, 16; placed on probation, 17; committed to Boys and Girls' Aid Society temporarily, 6; committed to House of the Good Shepherd, 4; committed to Detention Home. 7; awarded to mother, 2; awarded to private individuals, 2; total, 60.

Cases investigated, not brought into court, 9; letters of warning sent, 31; cases of contributing to the delinquency of minors, 4.

NEW HAVEN, CONN.

WHAT THE PROBATION OFFICER REPORTS.

That the assistance of a woman in the police court probation system service, her special field to be the reaching of girls before they arrive at the stage which demands court attention, is now essential to the normal welfare of New

Leyerzapf for the probation work during the past year, and he declared that he would seek such an improvement in the service in a short time.

It is not that the probation report contains any startling record of young girls of the city, there having been but 17 girls and 14 women on probation during the entire year, but rather that all of these cases proved clearly the necessity of "reaching" a girl in time.

"Our probation system here is meeting with most encouraging results," declared Judge Mathewson in discussing his new plan. "Mr. Leyerzapf's report shows only a 7 per cent. violation of probation commitments for the year. The young people have been taken hold of in time in most cases and have responded to the personal work of the probation officer. Cases of girls who might be set on the right track by the proper methods, have come to our attention outside of courts as much as they have in court during the year. A man probation officer can not meet with the success among girls that a woman can. He hasn't the time. for special outside effort, and I am convinced that the morals of the city demand the appointment of a woman assistant very soon. Such an appointment was made some time age both in Hartford and Bridgeport and other neighboring cities," he concluded.

Probation Officer Leyerzapf's report, which provoked the judge's statement, showed a total of 306 probation commitments during the year. There were 80 men, 14 women, 195 boys and 17 girls.

Theft was the chief crime among boys, there having

« PreviousContinue »