The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-12
Juvenile offenders.

one Of the most important questions III
me treatment Of laW-brcakefs is ilc
proper course 90 pursue an the cases OF
iuvenile ooenqsrs The statute recog-
nizes neither agc nor any other attn
butte OF the person who breaks H. II
provides that whoever steals a purse OF
6rea ks into house shall be punished by
= certain term of imprisonment me
place OF Imprisonment, as RUE, mas
also been tho same for all who are con-
Nictcd. The thief must 30 10 jail, or the
bureiar 10 the peniteniary, whether no
Is a man IN middle life. who mas always
been a law breaker, o. mere boy, VINO
has iuss committed his first offence. The
result has been that in most States no
discrimination has been pracuced, ana
even no separation has been made IN the
same institution between the professional,
lifelong criminal and the juvenile OF
fender.
During late years public sentiment has
begun II pronounce against this system.
The object OF punishment Is not merely
10 infiict just penalty for a particular
crime. but 10 arrest the course OF the
criminal, IL possible. ana convert him
INTO a useful citizen FOR the remainder OF
ils life Particularly IS this true of the
youth who goes wrong and breaks
some law. The hardened criminal, whose
hand has been against society for forty
OF nlty Yeas, is often hopeless case.
But scores OF instances occur IN every
COMMONWEALTH every year in which mere
boys violate statutes perhaps IN a spirit
OF bravado or misunderstanding, who do
not, by the oftentimes thoughtless act,
show any ingraincG criminality OF dispo-
sitiOn, and who oulslt not 10 be treated
by society as though they had forfeited
all chance Of an honorable future.
In such cases everything depends upon
the treatment OF the youth while under
going Imprisonment il the little boy who
has stolen Il few pennies IS thrown into
contact for months or years with house
breakers, assaiiants OF women and muir
derers. he must be expected in nine eases
out OF ten 90 come out Of confinement
with his moral standards all wrong. and
with the chances very strong that he will
break the laws during the rest OF his
life But II the State provides a reforma-
tory. where youth who have gone astray
cannot only D. kept in confinement, but
also can be subjected 10 proper disci
pine. the overwhelming majority may
be saved. in a large proportion of cases
lack OF proper training at home has
been the chief cause OF their msdongs
The community can supply this lack by
showing them the error OF their ways
and enabling them to return to the world
prepared for an honest struggle with the
problems OF FIFE.
Mississippi is orc OF the States that are
agitatag reform in this direction The
report recently submitted TO tn Legis-
lature 10y the Attorney-Generai showed
that the need OF radical change IS
urgent All convicts IN Mississippi are
sent 10 the state prison. The last report
OF that institution showed that the total
nffeou manhattan was III and tho, 400
almost exactly one-quarter, were
under the ago OF % OF these isS who
had rot yet reached manhood no fewer
than a. Were boys OF 10 years and stil
younger. one convict II years old was
serving out a sentence of three years FOR
burglary. and another OF the same age a
sentence OF ten years for the same crime
A youth Of - was undergoing a sentence
OF ten years ana one OF 1G had been SEN
tened 10 eight years. for assault and
battery with intent to kill
The new constitution of Mississippi re-
quires the Legislature 10 provide by law
for the Keeping of Juvenile offenders from
association with hardened criminals"
This shows that the members OF the con
vention who framed this instrument real
lied the gross Injustice OF the old sys-
TEN, ana intended To assure the substi-
tuition OF the needed reform Attorney
General Johnston urges with great force
the demoraiizing nature OF the present
methods. and his statement OF the case
has had marked effect upon public
opinion.
We note with great satisfaction every
manifestation Of the development OF the
right sentiment upon this subject The
question Is one that should be constantly
Agitated In TIorida--Florlda Citizen.