Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-07-13
The state Reform school.
AERNoST REFoRN SCHooL.
" WATERBURY. July .. lSGf.

WATERBURY, July 3, leG6.
For the benefit Of the noH-professional public
who are interested in the proper treatment and
welfare OF juvenile offenders in the State, and
who frequently inquire upon the subject, we take
the liberty to submit the following statements
and references in regard to the laws and the
proper methods Of procedure under them.
In the first place then, we call attention to the
provision Of the law creating the State Reform
school in regard to the nature Of the offences for
which a minor under the age Of IS years is la
bic to be sentenced to the School
Section 9TH provides that when any male "
female, under the age Of Is years, shall be found
guilty Of any crime or offence against the laws Of
the State, the Court in its discretion, shall have
power to sentence the respondent to the Vermont
Reform School.
From this II appears that there Is 10 crime,
however great or small, Tor which the Court may
not sentence the offender to the School
There is. indeel, class Of crimes for which
no Court would he likely to pass 50 mild-a SEN
tence as commitment to this Reformatory
But there Is another, and that by far the larg-
er class, for which that would almost certainly
be the sentence, in case the offender is a minor.
We cannot be expected to give complete list
Of the crimes enumerated in the statutes. But
it may be useful 10 direct the attention OF .aqui-
rers upon the subject, to sections 80, Sc and 80,
chap. 1l3 of the General Statutes, for a pretty
full enumeration Of the class Of crimes which
boys are most likely TO commit.
Section 40 Of the same chapter will also be
found instructive in this connection. It limits
the jurisdiction Of justices in regard to the Of
fences above enumerated They have Juris-
diction in cases where the injury does not exceed
seven dollars, ard may sentence the person con-
vIctod to pay lue not exceeding twenty dol
lars or to Imprisonment III the County Jail not
more than three months.
But in case the offender is q minor under IS
they would, since the establishment Of the Re
form School, be likely to sentence them to that.
In cur Judgment the main design Of the
school Is The reception and treatment Of this
class Of offenders and they should IL most cases
be sent to it instead OF being fined or sent to the
County jail as heretofore. II inquiry be made
as to the course to be pursued in bringing q
juvenile offender 20 trial it Will be useful to re-
fer to sections Sc and s. chap - Of the general
statutes These sections define the duties Of town
grand Jurors and II viii be seen that it is the
duty Of the grand juror to inquire into and duo
preseR;ment make TO proper authority of all Of.
fences that come to his knowledge. The plain
duty Of the citizen, then, is to bring to the
knowledge Of the grand juror any offence which
he shall think the design of the law and the
good Of the community require to be prosecuted.
On his going to the grand juror with his in
formation or complaints that magistrate viii in
struct him so far as uoediul as to his duty in the
premises, and 10 serious difficulty will be en-
ccuntered by any good citizen DESTROYS of doing
his duty in regard to the prosecution of crime
and the reformation of juvenile oftnders. Ii
any light shall by these statements or references
be thrown upsn the path Of any honest citizen
irquiring after the way Of duty and the proyis-
ions of law upon TINS important subject We shall
be glad: We wish the community to 10 their
duty in regard 10 this matter and we wish TO
do ours but obviously there Is nothing sor Us
to DO except as proper ac1ion Is taken by the
community and the courts. We ask in conclu-
sion tina; though. ard attention may he given
to this suhjec, ard that al good citizens may be
stirred up 10 the discharge Ct their duty.
A. G. PEASE, Acting Commissioner.
P. s-There ara tUo other sections Of the
General Statutes Ehish il is appropriate to ask
attention To-, but which Sfre emitted in their
proper place. MEAN sessions ! 0 and II Of chap
ZIG.
Boys are not seldom guilty Of tie offences
specified IN these sections But the law on the
suhiee; is lot generally understood. The too
c1mnon impression Is that scr such misdeInean-
Ors there is 10 legal remedy; or if the remedy il
known the community are reluctant to apply it.
They Irs:,r to suffer the in;oleraJle nuisance
rather than bring the offender to Justice
But since the State has Row provided what
it is hoped will prove a salutarY discipline for
such offenders and The meaI.- Of their recovery
from wee it would seem a reasonable expecta-
tion that such offences VIII in future be
properly noticed, and that instead Of the iInpo
sitIon Of fine place viii be found for the
vicious. youth, where he will learn the better
way