Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-09-04
CIRCULATION uNRIVALLED
IN ELIZABETH.
Juvenile Offenders.

VI Jul NASASNA53 ttiA viz EAAN NS''SASN
seems general that there is no remedy
for these annoyances. We are about
as free from juvenile criminals as any
city, yet we must confess they can be
found here, and several are awaiting
trial at the next court One lad senten
ced some three or four months ago to
the reform school at Jamesburg is still
in confinement in our county jail,
awaiting transportation, or for some
reason unknown to us.
1t does not seem to be generally I'M
derstood that the state has provided for
such cases. Indeed, from the practices
of our Courts, it would seem that
the real object in establishing the Re-
form School is not understood. The
idea seems TO prevail that boy must
first be convicted f an offence before
he can be sent to the Reform School.
We do not so understand the law, and
in looking over the report of the Trus-
tee of the institution, made to the last
legislature, they do not understand it
in that light. The trustees say: In
looking over the record of commit
ments to the school, we have regretted
to observe that considerable number
are sent here after conviction by the
county courts, thus entailing needless
expenses upon the community. The
trial too, in q number Of instances, has
been preceded by months of confne-
ment in the county jail, aud in one in
stance, boy sentenced at the May
term, was not brought here until Au
gust. We are constrained to think
that officers and citizens fail to appre-
ciate the benevolent intention of the
law, which provides for the prompt ex-
animation and decision Of cases of
youthful delinquency by Justice of
the Supreme Court, on their being re-
ferred to him bya Justice of the Peace,
who may believe the boys to be suita-
bic sub ects for the Reform School A
youthful criminal should not only be
preserved from the degradation of the
prison, and communicating associates
confined there, but he should, with as
little delay as possible, be placed under
the reformatory influence which the
state has provided for his benefit"
The law provides for two kinds of
offences, first, persons guilty of a
crime and convicted thereof by the
jury, and secondly, disorderly persons.
La the first case it is made lawful for
the Court, instead OF entering Judgment
and pronouncing sentence according to
law, to cause an order to be entered in
the minutes that the said boy be sent
to the State Reform School, for reform
alton and instruction. The second
class of offenders, and this is the class
in reference to which the complaints
are most numerous, are provided against
in more summary way. When boy
under the age of sixteen years shall be
arrested upon complaint of any crime,
excepting murder or manslaughter,
or Of being diso9deriy person, it shall
be lawful for the magistrate before
whom he shall be taken, after examina-
ton, if in his Judgment said boy is Il
fit subject for the Reform School, to
commit him to the jail of the county
or city where the charge shall be made
and forthwith to certify and send u
copy of the complaint and commitment
to justice of the Supreme Court most
convenient of access, and the justice of
the Supreme Court upon receiving said
copies of the complaint and commit
ment, on up0n his o,oM Information of
such complaint and commitment, may
issue his warrant to bring said boy be-
fore him and an order to the parent or
guardian of said boy, or such person
who may have him in charge. or with
whom he has last resided, requiring
him or her to appear before him at the
time and place stated in such order, to
show cause why such boy should not
be committed to the reform school for
reformation and instruction. Upon the
day of examination, if it should appear
that the boy had been guilty of crime
and the parents or guardian waive a
trial by jury, the justice may proceed
to take the voluntary examination OF
the boy, and to hear the statements OF
the party appearing for him, and such
testimony in relation to the caseas may
be produced, and if upon an examina,
ton the justice shall be satisfied that
the boy has committed crime, or is q
disorderly person, and is a fit subject
for the State Reform School, he may
commit to said school by warrant.
1t appears, therefore, that the law is
ample to meet the cases to which We
have particularly referred, and that
proceedings to bring such persons tc
! justice are prompt ard summary. II
only requires that police officers and
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