, 1866-12-10
REFORM SCHOOL COMMITMENTS.
Jurisdiction Of the Commissioner Must
bc Shown to Warrant Detention
In the Reform School.

decision was made a few days ttDce. by Judge
Williams Of the Circuit Court Of this eonrr,
rh,1a1thropic views Ia relation 70 the Reform
School. The decision ntnts case aptiy illustrates
the necessity Of great care on tho par Of our city
officials In securing The custody OF the young
whose tatuse wcltare demands that they u
csee VA On ihe application Of Jo.nna DAILY 70
School The decision Is as follows:
Of 7s 1 y: oa. p 81 sBPs'sa t. 1s ., Gi hs .s5 s
uho lstbe uo.her Of John baiiy. Il 4 boy d
sssss a es shss Sc e. H.
psiiy, from ,hst insiisusioa, o. H. groapa III I'll
comm,tmtnts to ihe Reiot@ seaoo, arc made
u1der tHo df1errnt sections o. the Charter Of tho
CitS Of Chicsro, eeetiona eight tnd ntue: Sec
foiscr 'aeoti1rcts o. Jatflc1 Or fAt Haes Of the
city Of Chicago, Of any male within the ages OF
sx and sixteen. who laall hare been brough. be-
to believe Is vagrant or destitute Of proper pa.
tental ss,e or Il pIowiux np IN n,sndicaacy tsho.
md not necessarily - to his character. He msy
IT ts Of nfSSpes Sp tren,sl sa.e thoush
Me
,ents by 'le neglect d every parental teblisaueo,
% s event tse sts1e esefae! ~ as
which for The time being, shall stsnd toward such
Ssss iutiIan a9a a so;ss. sSs sAa y, y 0 T1e
educational In its rha,aciar-a .trchool." nut .
nrlson. The object Of the Legislature In crsatlng
t1e nsatnhon--edasation; not punishment.ss
lteiorm School. AID Is distinctly expressed IN sec.
lions one and nfne-
ery e e. .a. os Sa boy ao {
t1ronght before the magistrate snd tha conuis~
Net 20, however, IL regard TO commitments M
der section ntuc. Thcs. can only be made alter =
ccnvteitJp. IN court OF record, Of crime pun-
sdyf a1s q as aos I'd oss
Iced Of and will bs benefited BY tho reloematory
innucncc Of said school" Under th1s tectiun Mt
cs eo%l:s =, FL seS 1he sGn,'e!eg .na upon ,as
hc Reform School by virtue Of warrsut signed
tya susjec Of The sfcace. aud not BY ! Judge
only hare Scen eonmitted under t. pfaT.,loas u
section eight Of The City charter; section nine had
no application to bic case II not At ali neccs-
shifted a. to iii innocsnce or guilt Of my crime;
tctIbed By .ection eight: was he vaer1ut. Or
By wsS I'll i e Il i. n
lor1h Ia the sane secaion, md the persons who
70 sDan ns sa?g5 I, II i. MS11 &
etty. H1sl IN every In ,tsccc pass upon the faess
be4eIe any commitment car BE- made.
I lhe 1cvtsug1tlon u 20 Important not only be-
!.arcn:s and nieaas and 10 the community, that
tne Legislature has entrusted Ito IN officer ap-
s ss oe1 tas opfss asd r5ss ai
Gsuate, or Justicn Of the rrace. having reason 10
o.slIess that The 10! WHO has bean brought before
>Lall caa.e HIN. tose,hsr ws:h tie sarsaas sn,i
The list Of w'tnessts which may b neees'
Of :aes et.on to sfsseo e
] MD Comr1tek1oner," who having given tho rc-
guis'te noieea 70 the parents. guardian O. person
allh when ,s tSe eay 1Ss,1ss shall proceed 70 *:
be produced, md II he decides that The boy Is
| snNabe tubject 10! commitment to the school he
hf sR1nsn 70 taS sbs
Isnt Of commitment, &c. - the third soe.aon OF
| the act Of 1S6l the commitment 70 the Reform
care Hhe7e its lesaltJ Is called In quesiou. pro-
| ridfd '1he waHaut Of commitment shall upon It,
face fhow iees1 cause Of Commitment and in nj
| caEcs whether upon hohe1s eorjue, or Otherwise,
| ;Ae court before which enrh cause ia pending !
sb.ll osiy e1asa.ne into the snu,etcner Of thi
Section Of the act Of 1851, ptrmits Police Mag
| t,ir7tcs md Justices the Peace 70 amend their
,eeorts IN there cares, MD declares that I'll or
lcemrd sufncient provided i aqpeaEs fFom them
.hai vaa the opinion and otde: q! such Court
h., faes psrson should be committed 10 the Re-
II ~tll be seen nou these two sections thst The
dcct.1on Of the Couamt.sloues upou .he ttdtvs oi
| ne pEf&on E31n1lHtd oElofU Hlt0 II NnAl &QQ CIQ
cln.ave. Hit deelflop Is not subject 70 rericw OF
| rcSen al In any o,her tlibunA1. No method OF Ap
pesl fom t. has beea provided ~ shc statute.
s. ese1sed ne. Gesa ies hs pnlpose q,
ing tpf qneation Of guilt or tnnocenee IN lhe east
Of supposed ef:ntnai, but IL deciding who among
e'es som@i'ied @aS q . tae sshooi % ee @
aud q aeased 1t the pab1ie expense The deaigr
at ths law i 70 e1c;nae from tse seaos! all who
s ss5siesd sopxissr ,e,ses. sas@s' 4ss ~ esss aes
eife Of the G-cie:toa Of the Commission, { i.
80 Il 81 u saa M
eonmiiuarns to .he .ehool il. .f!et .asd ,ayes
asst Ia, shas ~ '0a IL .sss al e0
1a's Sastes II ',,nc r. s,s s,,, ssaa1 T: E:
sa of Tho comni.s,ouers, ;Sc ia.uins OF h.
variant y The scl Of the Police Magistrate Q!
irr m Investigation had, and + tne expression
Of The resn!t Of sEeh investle Aton; the latiet l.
,.5Ssd sout az nd T. a slesa
I 1he eantt npon An examination under &uaeoaeoF
r. nt q of C ecmntnea. p,s7eatss ne IL eoa1s C M fson
siontr "a and Jussiee o. Police Mssssa.ts hsd Jun.
p,inc1pie governing III judicial tribunal. Int ii
acte deue 6s shetn n cat-e where 4hey have ~
t ,s! SG ndI \ e1a; . s?as
|
| jpzteoictton m1st be made to appear atrraa.iycis
] and Is never presumed The Commissioner tnnnss
yiihln thc limits prcse1thed hy the 1ce1s1aturo ha
such wide discretlont and bis aets 80 far 4. "
uon Of d person b1onsh. ntfoEe hin e.nne;
scrjcwed before anJ other tribunal Is YET IN enc
utli1ain d powc1s, hts court ttf It may DC called
court} Is Al 1nfct1nr conft, 80 also OF Tue comn1
1pe agf.ttale rec nothing In tho ttatutes =
l.sug io the Reform School Hhlch changes Y
| principles Of the COMMON law In reference TO IL
ncts ofsnch oaeeIs-
lhelr ju1Ikaiction n1rs! be made aMrnAt1Te!y
! suWar. Anef thc hoy h1s been transmitted fro
,be Police HaFisuate Or Juasiee of The l'esee ,
he Cornlnt.slnner. the Commissioner must olhsl
iur1adi.tlcu over the boys pe1sou in The unctho
! | p,etcY1hed BIZ seetfou eight pl the CITY Chastc
and ttep. upon Completing hiA investigation,
mrtt certify his Cpl aion 10 The Aartettate or Ju
. dec Ther, ano IN = then, has the Police Ma:i
tale ~ legal aoilet.,y % ..,,a q. xallsn
, | Suutlusa,e n 70 the fAcs3 appca
itc tketelr. Such a construction OF the lAW t..
h ltitue The Reform keAool scems to nr not only
= confG1unity with the pEupes principals Of CO
! ! tt1uct.on, but one which leaves the Institute
(ree to car1y cut The bc1edcsnt purposes which
). | WIS designed b. The Legislature TO aeeomp II
= I frecd from the esnoa1 rassfnG Investigations
:. ! Conttr 81 Eeysew, tut II prcrsnta ail danger th
- A.t k~d dnoA IN he ~