neglected delinquent Supervision of state board. All associations receiving chil. Dependent, dren under the act are made subject to the same visitation, in- and spection and supervision of the Board of Public Charities as are children the public charitable institutions of the state and are required to file an annual written or printed report regarding their work, including a financial statement. The future incorporation of such associations is made subject to the approval of the board. Amendments to articles of incorporation of existing societies caring for such children require similar approval and indorsement. Foreign corporations. It is made unlawfui for associations not incorporated within the state to place any child in any family home within the boundaries of the state without furnishing such guaranties as the Board of Public Charities may require. Religious preference. The religious preferences of parents are recognized under the act. Children are to be placed, as far as practicable, in the care and custody of individuals holding the same religious beliefs as the parents, or with associations controlled by persons of the same religious faith as the parents. County boards of visitors. A further safeguard thrown about the care of dependent, neglected and delinquent children is the provision for the appointment of a board of reputable citizens in each county, who are to serve without compensation as a board of visitation, whose duty it is to visit as often as once a year all institutions, societies and associations receiving children under the law. These visitors are to make an annual report to the Board of Public Charities in such form as the board may prescribe. The provision embodied in the act as to how the statute is to be construed clearly establishes that the family home is to be the standard and is to be given the preference over institutional care. The Wisconsin statute ['01 ch. 90] to regulate the treatment and control of dependent, neglected and delinquent children is applicable to counties having over 150,000 population. The probation system in other states. Certain features of this class of legislation have recently been enacted by other neglected Dependent, states than those named. Missouri ['01 p. 135] has adopted a probation system for delinquents under 16 in cities of 350,000 delinquent inhabitants. In this instance probation officers are to be nomi and children nated by the State Board of Charities and Corrections subject. Massachusetts ['78 ch. 198] established a probation system for the city of Boston as early as 1878. It was made the duty of the probation officer "so far as the same is practicable, to visit the offenders placed on probation by the court at his suggestion, and render such assistance and encouragement as will tend to prevent their again offending." The system was amplified and extended to other cities in the state by '80 ch. 129. The system has since been further perfected by '91 ch. 356, which repeals the earlier statutory provisions on the subject. Michigan as early as 1873 established a state agency for the care of juvenile offenders. The original act has been amended from time to time. Under the present statute [Compiled laws, '97, § 2260-66] the governor is empowered to appoint in each county of the state "an agent of the State Board of Corrections and Charities for the care of juvenile offenders and dependent children." These county agents perform in many respects similar duties to those assigned to probation and parole officers under the statutes already discussed, and also act as placingout agents in their respective counties. neglected children New York ['01 ch. 372] has adopted the probation system, but Dependent, strangely enough its application is limited to persons over 16 and years of age. By ['01 ch. 627] amending a previous statute delinquent entitled, "An act to revise the charter of the city of Buffalo," authority is conferred upon the police justice to appoint or designate not more than five discreet persons of good character to serve as probation officers. The duties of these officers are not unlike those of such officials elsewhere. They receive no compensation from the public treasury. Two things, however, distinguish this local law, namely: the period of three months probation is made the maximum, and children are to be placed with probation officers of the same religious faith as their parents. The revised charter of the city of New York ['01 ch. 466 § 1399] provides for the establishment of a children's court. Policy of state supervision. The policy of state supervision over societies, associations and institutions receiving and caring for dependent, neglected and delinquent children has received general recognition in legislation. Child-saving work in some states is placed under the immediate direction of boards of children's guardians. This is notably the case in New Jersey, where by laws of 1899, ch. 165, a State Board of Children's Guardians is provided for, to consist of seven persons serving without compensation. The statute provides that this board "shall have the care of and maintain a general supervision. over all indigent, helpless, dependent, abandoned, friendless. and poor children who may now be or who may hereafter become public charges; and said board shall have the care of and maintain supervision over all children adjudged public charges, who may now be in the charge, custody and control of any county asylum, county home, almshouse, poorhouse, charitable institution, home or family to which such child or children may be or have been committed, confined, adopted, apprenticed, indentured or bound out." It is made the duty of this board "to visit, by its agent or agents, quarterly all children who may be committed under this act, and also any home, asylum, institution or private family where any such child or children may be placed." The statute further provides that "the State Board of Children's Guardians shall remain the neglected Dependent, guardians of all children indentured, bound out or put forth who may now be or may hereafter become public charges." delinquent Indiana ['01 ch. 173] has authorized the appointment of a board and children of children's guardians in each county, to have care and supervision of neglected and dependent children of the county under 15 years of age. This board is required to report to the Board of State Charities as often and in such manner as it shall require. Indiana ['99 ch. 29] and Minnesota ['99 ch. 138] are among the states that have made it unlawful to import dependent children without the consent of the state boards. Missouri ['01 p. 132] prohibits the importation of afflicted, indigent or vicious children. Homes for juvenile delinquents. A valuable ally of the probation system is found in the establishment of special homes or schools for juvenile delinquents. While many states have reformatories for juveniles of both sexes from 12 years of age and upward, the importance of having homes for the detention and instruction of young children who are first offenders has not until recently been generally recognized. Under the probation system, the value of such homes is clearly seen. This is evidenced by the action of the states which have worked out most completely the probation system, such as Illinois and Pennsylvania. Illinois ['01 p.67] has made provision for the establishment and maintenance of a state home for delinquent boys. This home is to be managed by a bipartizan board of seven members who are to receive no compensation for their services. Any delinquent boy coming within the terms of the act of Ap. 21, 1899, which act established juvenile courts and the probation system, may be committed to such home. The institution is to be on the cottage plan, and a maximum of 40 boys to each cottage is specified. Buildings are to be of plain and inexpensive style. The Legislature appropriated $25,000 for construction, $5000 for furnishing and $5000 for maintenance for the first year. Pennsylvania ['01 ch.297] has provided for houses of detention in cities over 100,000. Not more than 25 children are to be received in one home. The act is compulsory. Such houses of detention are for the reception of the untried juvenile offenders and neglected and dependent children under the age The insane of 16 years who may be in the custody of appointed or elected officers, or whose cases may be under judicial investigation. The board of managers, to be appointed by the court, is to consist of five members, two of whom are to be women. They are to serve for a term of two years without compensation. Provision is to be made for each child to occupy a separate room, so far as possible. Expenses are to be met by the county in which the city is located. Wisconsin ['01 ch.210] has adopted a permissive act by which counties singly or jointly may establish industrial or reformatory schools for incorrigible children. THE INSANE1 T. E. MCGARR, SECRETARY NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION IN LUNACY Psychopathic wards and detention pavilions. The most important developments of the year in connection with the care of the insane and the management of institutions for their treatment occurred in Michigan and Minnesota. Michigan ['01 ch. 161] provides for the erection of a psychopathic ward to accommodate 40 insane patients in connection with the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Three competent physicians are first to pass upon the mental status of the individuals whom it may be desired, as a curative or precautionary measure, to commit to this ward rather than to an asylum for the insane. The expense of maintenance of patients is to be borne by the county from which the patient is committed. Provision is made that patients committed to such ward may receive homeopathic treatment if desired. Minnesota ['01 ch. 317] leads her sister states by establishing in all cities of over 50,000 a detention ward or building to which cases of doubtful insanity, "borderland cases," or those not regarded as strictly appropriate for admission to the state hospitals, shall be committed. While in such detention pavilion, patients will be under immediate medical charge of the city or county physician, but may also receive visits from such outside physician as they or their relatives may designate. 1See also Comparative Summary and Index, 1901, no. 3095-109, 4009–14, 4101-38. |