The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-18 00:00:00

REFORMATION OF J UVENILE
OFFENDERS.

The following obreoations of the Lads Mercury, in a
sketch of the Philanthropic S,•ciety in St. Ci corge'e-
fields, Southwark, and the good it has been the means of
conferring upon society in general, will doubtless he read
with interest, particularly from the fact explained in the
first few lines et' the extract we have quoted:—
" The reformation of juvenile offenders must, at all
times, be an important point for consideration; but at
the present moment the subject loudly calls for the im-
mediate and unflinching attention both of the Legis-
lature and all those who hare it in their power to effect
oven the smallest mitigation of the serious amount of
youthful delinquency. During the latter part of
the eighteerth century, the same alarming number
of this class of i
offendces (as compared with the
increase of population) were n existence as at the pre-
sent period; but at that time, comparatively speaking,
there was no refuge whatever to protect the inexperienced
from the snares of those versed in duplicity and crime.
By diligent inquiry and systematic calculation, it was
ascertained that the greater poi tion of adult criminals
who underwent the various, and at that time severe,
sentences of the law, had commenced their career of
wickedness at a very early age, having been trained
to dishonesty and vice by the dissipated companions
with whom they were compelled to associate. It was
found that the punishment of imprisoning generally
awarded juvenileto. criminals served but to corrupt and
deprave their minds, while the execution or transports-
tion of the older class of offenders annually left a large
number of innocent children entirely nnprovided and
uncared for, whose only opportunity of avoiding abso-
lute starvation was to follow the evil example of their
parents.
" Such was the state of society in 178 e, and such
were the circumstances which led to the establishment
of ' Philanthropic Society fur the Reformation
of Juvenile Offenders: The objects which the
society took upon themselves to perform, was, how-
ever, not confined to reformation alone, but the fos-
tering care of the corporation was also extended to
the otherwise helpless children who were thrown upon
the mercy of the wide world by the misdeeds of
their parents. At the time alluded to, this class was
exceedingly numerous, in all probability owing to the
repeated execution of felons for offences now considered
of a minor nature. The intention of the society only
required to be known to be duly supported, and the requi-
site knowledge having been diffused, the bounteous co •
operation of the wealthy-humane was readily and willingly,
granted; and in less than twenty years after its orga-
nization an important object was attained, namely, a
special Act of Incorporation, vesting the government of
the charity in noblemen and gentlemen, who were to be
elected by subscribers to the several offices of
president, vice-president, treasurer, committee,
&c. At the same time, a public chapel, attached,
to the establishment, was opened for divine service,
the expenses of building and furnishing being defrayed
by duuations especially contributed fur that purpose, and
by a loan, which was not finally paid off until 1817,
since which period the surplus chapel receipts has been
transferred to the general fund. In consequence
of the great difficulty experienced in the classification
of the criminal girls and the innocent children of
the same sex, the governors of the charity, in 1817, came
to the resolution of discontinuing the admission of the
former class, and devoting the whole of its energies to
the reformation of boys who had been convicted of crime,
and the continuances of the secondary object of training
the children of convicts and those who had perished for
their offences against the laws of the country. The
labours of the society in recovering a number of
ignorant boys scarcely any of whom were able
to read or write—from habits of dissipation and crime
to honesty and uniform good conduct, must neces-
sarily be a work of no inconsiderable difficulty; yet,
nevertheless, by kindness and strict regularity, coupled
with a constant personal association with the masters,
the boys generally left the department of the school
where they were first placed, instructed in the sound
branches of education, if not thoroughly recovered in a
moral point of view.
` Before proceeding, however, any further, it may be
necessary to premise that, upon admission, the boys are
placed in a distinct portion of the institution, linear] as
the Reform School, and while here the inmates
are eubjected to a very close superintendence, not
being allowed to quit its limits. These are ex-
tensivc, however, and sufficient to afford full exercise
and recreation. The treatment in this part of the estab-
lishment is conducive to softening and improving the
boys' disposition, the majority upon entering being of a
vicious and unruly character. Here the boys roe accus-
tomed to habits of industry, cleanliness, and order, while
the mind is thoroughly instructed in the elements of re-
ligious knowledge. The school course also embraces
ciphering, writing, and reading ; but the industrial
training is limited to the trades of shoemaking and
tailoring. The boys generally remain in this prepa-
ratory department about a year ; the time of proba-
tion, of course, being shortened, in cases where the
pupils exhibit signs of improvement, or have lied
any previous knowledge of the trades taught. They
are then removed to the manufactory, where they
are individually taught whatever calling their re-
spective capabilities may suggest. Independent of the
trades, the instruction given in this school is of a more
extended and general description than that afforded in
the Reform; the boys of greater capacity and diligence
having an opportunity of acquiring a general knowledge
of history, geography, and of the higher branches of
arithmetic. A library of selected works is also available,
and the inmates do not neglect to make constant
use of it. While, however, the higher branches
of education aro not thrust upon the boy, it is
by no means left to his inclination whether he will
or will not improve his scholarship ; examinations
are held, prizes distributed, and privileges allowed to
the boys most distinguished for their assiduity aid at-
tention. Indeed, a similar system is carried on
throughout the institution, in reference to the boys'
industry and general conduct. After remaining in
the manufactory about two years, the boys are appren-
ticed out by the committee, who, subsequent to
their discharge, endeavour to maintain a certain
degree of influence and beneficial control, both by
occasioning repeated inquiries as to their prospects and
condition, and also by assembling them on the society's
anniversaries, for the first two or three years after leav-
ing the protection of the charity. The results of there
investigations would seem to be of a satisfactory and
encouraging nature, as there is substantial rea-
son to believe that, taking the past thirty
years into consideration, not more than ens in
twenty has been guilty of any criminal offence, or has
relapsed into the dishonest courses from which the
society interposed to save him. This return includes
both those who were terribly hardened in crime, having
been repeatedly convicted and punished—and those who,
although imprisoned, were comparately guiltless and
undeserving of the penalties inflicted."