The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-10-01
JUVENILE DELuNaUENTs.
Report Of ths special Oop,mittce
the board of Pelics,

Report Of the special Committce Of
the Board OF Pslies.
Al the meeting Of the Board Of Police
Commissioners, yesterday afternoon, DR..
Cragin, from the special committee ap-
pointed TO visit Institutions for juvenile de.
llnquents In tho North, submitted the fol-
lowing report, a.
The special committee, appointed by this
board at its session on the I'd Inst, "to visit
and examine the various institutions In the
states north OF US for the reform Of Juvenile
dclinquents," have discharged their duties
to the best Of their ability, and bog leave re.
specifically TO report, EfINE "a -f
That they have carefully, and with great
interest, inspected the institutions for the
reform Of Juvenile offenders In New York,
at Randalps Island and near the High Bridge,
the "Shelter" for fallen women at Albany;
the House OF Correction at South Boston,
the House Of Refuge at Deer Island, and the
School Ship In the harbor at Boston, tho
Reform School for boys at Westboro', and
for girls at Lancaster, the Truant School at
Springfield, Mass; the State Reform School
at West Meriden, CT; the Reform School for
boys at Jamesbury, N. j.; and the House Of
Refuge in Philadelphia, Pa.
All these are excellent Institutions, where
delinquent children, from eight to sixteen
years OF age, are received, and removed from
corrupting influences Of idle ness and vice;
their time occupied In work, study, recrca-
tion aud rest good influences substituted for
evil by various ways and plans, all more or
lese correct, and all with highly satisfactory
results.
Our examination has convinced US that
from seventy TO niuety per cent. Of these
children, varying inversely as their age, can
be saved; that the younger such offenders
are, tho more effectual will be the success Of
proper treatment; that large aggrsgaiiow Of
| offenders are unwise, and that classification
and separation Into small families 10 essential
to the best success that such reformations
should be In the country and removed from
cltiesj that success In any radical reform Of
character Is mainly dependent upon tho
intending such reformations, and Of all the
inferior officers.
Finally, we would recommend that the
committee DO continued and instructed TO
confer with the trustees Of the proposed
House Of Refuge for this District and turn
ouer to them the many reports furnished us
by the authorities Of the above institutions,
understanding, as we do, that the Honorable
Secretary Of tho Interior, as well as the trus-
tees aforesaid, ARE favorable to tho family
plan adopted In the Ohio State Reform School
at Lancaster. One Of your committee Wis
tied the New Jersey Reform School for boys
at Jamesbury, modelled upon the old and
large institution at Lancaster, Ohio, and was
very strongly impressed In Its favor. We
understand that the trustees Of our House OF
Refuge propose to send committee to visit
the Ohio school, and we arc confident that
mutual consultation and cooperation be-
tween us will greatly tend TO accomplish
what wc all urgently need and desire.
We express our regret that other duties de-
prived your committee of tho valuable SER
vices and agreeable companionship Of Mr..
Murtagh, and our honest acknowledgment
OF the courteous attentions we everywhere
received during our visit.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
CHARLES II. CRAGts,
W. II. CHASE,
"A. G. RICHARDS,
Committee.
wAsuis0roS. d. c.. Sept 80, 1880.
The committee was continued and In
structcd to cooperate with the board ofman-
1 r A A.