The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-23
preventive POllceyo q

81
It's also shown by the committee. that the ~
| GERS Oh the fohce receive their paw and emolu-
meu's III proportion 10 the nun Der and character
OF .ne offences committed" The more crimes the
more money-their incidental profit. mr.. 10000
ana money Tor compoundibg offences The ,t;,..
| lus OF large reward for the stolen pron,rtv .nd
ashght one Tor the thief, Of course secures onlv
the property and the thie is left at large To stsat
again sure that il he steal but little he will moi he
worth the trouble Of pursuing to cosv ctior ana g
he steal much the wicked prize will enable hin TO
ouy out the law The wonder is, that such svs-
tenn should ever have been supposed 10 prevs.t
crime II is not in human nature that mar should
| seek to destroy his own living "*~* ssThe msn
composing the night watch, are not even sworn to
their duty. They cannot be practiced, and are Of
course unskillcd in watching the movements Of
crime"
The system Of supplying the watch with men
who are rendered incapable of performing their
trust BY the laborious occupations Ct the day.
is another OF the defects of the present orsapiza
ton. Not long since, one Of these guardians of
the night, was found engaged in robbing a store of
the very property which he was appointed to.
protect.
The present system with all its evils and defects
costs the city yearly about four hundred thousand
doliars ana The committee are OF opinion that the
plan proposed may not cost much 10 the trea-
sury, while in their language it will save hundreds
OF thousands TO the citizens in preventing crimes
and Introducing more wholesome respect for the
laws, and more general morality il will help to
give that feeling Of safety and confidence, that
tru.tiul repose and reliance upon good order,
tered, is above all price in the estimation Of those
VINO love the enJoy neuts of social life.
Acting on the principle, that prevention is better
than cure, and that punishment should be used only
Tor reformation and prote elton. the committee pro-
pose to increa largely the steral force AXE
the criminal courts more accessible, and to unite
in one body of men, all the functions of iremen,
watchmen and peliceme They arc to be men OF
unexceptionable character, and to be sele e,sd
as far as may be, from the present incumbeDts.
"They are to spsnd their whole time in the pre-
vcnton and extinction of fires, and the prevention
and punishment Of offences against the laws, and
are to be paid from the city treasury" Promotion,
increase OF pay, and extra compensation, are added
as indictments 10 vigilance. An important feature
| in The plan, is the proposal for rendezvous at
twelve station houses in as many districts Of the
city, hch station houses are to be court hocses
wach-houses, look out stations CINE hous e. and
keepers dwellings.and lodging rooms; included in
the plan, 10 the erection Of court for the trial
Of petty ofencesto be called the Police Cont, to
be always open it enlargss the powers and adds
to the efficiency Of the Assistant Justices Courts
and increases the nun Der Of magistrates by adding
six Assistant Justices to the Assistant Aldermen,
thereby prest nting magsterial body, which 10 al
ways accessible, and eminenty calculated 10 exert
| a salntary influence upon society The practice
OF discriminating in regard to individuals charged
with similar offences, Of discharging them with
without bail, before witnesses appear while
citizens in the humber walks of life obliged to-
suffer the full penalty Of the law, is circumstance
which, giving the lie TO our profession Of equal
rights, brings the administration Of justice into
tempt. To prevent in future such acts Of mantle SO
injustice, il is provided that arrested, shall
| un Ter any circumstances, be discharged at any,
other place than the court ROOM one before his
name, offence and bail, discharge, shall be en-
tsKeaf snSsh jh Rinp!ss:s. ci the sogIt An4 .Re
o'clock in the morning 1t is conceived, that this
| would tend greatly to prevent the commission OF
offences. by eepriving the lawless of the protee-
ton so often extended TO them by wealth. po-
| stion, other influence. REFORM
To be continued.