, 1869-05-10
Jnventlc Offenders nnd Reform
Schools

1v the Eiftor II The Chicago 1rsthh<
SIR: Allow me, through your paper. TO ea.l
the attention Of the Doazu OF Public Charities to
the necessity Of reform In our ihws ret.,ing TO
juvenile Offenders.
The Police Supertusendeats 5 ahurat report, Inst
published, shows the arrest OF ls5 children under
IL years Of age, and 2 4ai between the ages OF II
and 81
LaKe Al this number Is 1t conye5s but a faint
i1ea Of the number Of young criminals In Our
midst, OF the amount Of theft committed. Hs the
c!ass Of property on which they operate Il seldom
few arrests arc made. Those giving
the subject merely = Superficial glance may sup
pose that all ia being done thxt possibly can be to
reform this army Of transgressozs o:fore they be-
come hardened c11mtnals - there are two Reform
Schools In the city. But let Us see- The police
report further shows that ten were sent to the
cky Reform School and ffsy to the Roman Cath
lie. SlxtY needed reforming. aud oyer 9,oo1 dis
charged No, not discharged, but sent 70 Bride
well or jail to come cut seyen-foad more the child
" l remember M listing tie 1as last sumue. during
the ages Of and II confined in onc
not be ealen up with yeFmtn But ona need not
70 back to last summer TO nnt such see1es, as
they are Of daily occurrence Ia both Budexe!l and
tRtl where they asauctate with the most hardened
camlua}1.
WITH the view Of having m expression of prblic
opinion upon this subject will make q few E1g-
Resaons IS 10 what seefns to me Necessary for the
more tgecsual prevention Of crime and the ref
THese I $50 may may Be- diyide<a into three classes. l.
Those who have been expelled from school, run
away from home and have become 1ncortaylbie.
= Those who hare passed this stsRe and hATe
been IL Btf1eWel once or twice. s Those who
are still more hardened and are becoming b14iar8
What We are most In rant Of Is compulsory
educational system: but as we cnnnat hare
school palaces len or tfeen thousand children nnst
roam tac streets In idleness. -.
Hut II We cannot hare this nc should at least
have no e1rulsionA from school 1t NAY seem .
very small matter to cxpel boy from school, and
the Boarn OF Education may aay that they cannot
ALLOW ,few oEs 70 aIstqe IT,
| tics to FAY to such hoys You must obey; II your
| parents cannot contro! fou We can-lusteaA OF
turning HIM At large 70 Infect whole nesshbor-
| the conclusion that large retceu tage Of those
Whonow a!l cur prisons hare been led 70 lives Of
az. ~ TT Se ~
The second class arc those for whom tho Re
q rno wefs 70
gone tasss had taelS % PARENTS e. % been living In tss
There arc hundreds Of boYs whose parents re.
side In the city who neyer live as home, but roam
larse and Ass ny stealing: Ses .nsn they ,1 arr
a Reform School, but to I1!deweu or jan know
sn'l thc Oldest il, I'll q whom "o1m out" a;
| they term It, spending an occasional month in
I,ridcnell. Surely society should demand from
taetF % future r good Ode eoadaet and Il they failed to
g1ye II, send them TO Reform Schoo! and make
thcn paJ for their support Il able.
| ! wish TO remark that Is the Roman Catholic
Asylum IS authorized to receive aud detaiu Grim.
inals, Il shorld be required to furnish IN annual
statement q the disposition It u,akes Of those sent
there. As thngs are now 1t is little better than q
fa1ce sending boys TO IT, as the fences arr not suf-
clentiy strung to contain them
rec1 70 a,tention to, In VIEW of M Tie facs tnst e ~
soon to hare new Brtdewelt Their ages raner
from ID % et-last the most important tine n life
habits which 60 with rs through 1tfe This Is the
time wien thousands Of our Sons, and daughters,
too; might be saved to society, to the!r parents
sfsn 3s,, ,1s snEs t. esas sss
to to- 1afs care Of hinseif: fhs psee % oesla e
educate Is With the chtldren;" ne5er thinking that
that Is simply the seed time and this the hsrvest,
to reap than SOW. Az things ART now, they aIc
looked upon as bclng past reformation for no
s s I s's o 81 e g
able citizens growing up IN ldleness ana v,ce and
no effort made 70 reclaim them. simply becanse
Many Of Them would gladly reform md ~
anxious to learn trades but they are 30 entsneleI
|
less there Is sonnet hing 10 compel them to learn
| trade they have not sufficient force OF character
| to do 80. -..-
what xe want for this class Is u sehool 0
House OF Correction. where Ill under - could b
sent for term not less than three nor more tha
| nve years. This would giye them time to learn
useful trsdc thoroughly. Lave them work eigh
| hou1s per day. Make 1t comfortable Remove
| ~ lar from prison ~ possible In fact have
| the security Of PRISON about it with none OF fl
discipline. Par Them wages the last year Of she
| confinement. This wouM stimulate them 70 hal
It's of Industry, and It would also prepare mem 70
going into the world zKaln. ", u. =.
CHlci1D, May :, ts6o.