The times., 1899-05-13
THE PUNISHMENT OF MINORS.
Judge kimball Would Have the Re-
form schools Enlarged.

Judge kfmball Would Have the Re-
form schools Enlarged.
In response to a lengthy letter from
the District Commissioners calling atten-
ton to the considerable number of youths
sentenced to serve terms of Imprisonment
in the Jail and workhouse. Judge Ivory G.
Kimball, of the Police Court, has submit
ted long statement to the District Com
missioners. 1t was suggested to the Judge
that whenever a child under sixteen years
OF age is convicted of any minor offence it
! might be within the authority of the court
to hold any such child for further hear
ing and direct that additional enquiry be
made concerning the presence or absence
of salutary control in its home. 1t was
also suggested that whenever the child
should be found homeless and without ad-
equate support a new information be filed
by the court under which the child might
be committed to the reform school or the
Board of Children's Guardians.
Judge Kimball does not look upon the
suggestions OF the Commissioners with
favor and urges many reasons against their
| adoption. He thinks that the proper rem
edy is to enlarge both reform schools so
that they may take all defendants who
may be sent to them. In addition to this
the judge thinks that a separate place
should be provided at the workhouse for
the reception of youths in default of the
payment of fines, and that in all cases
where minors under sixteen years of age
are within the provisions OF the Board Of
Chiidren's Guardians act tnformations be
filed under that act and the children tried
accordingly
In his statement Judge Kimball calls at
tention to the act of May 3. 1876. which
specifies when the judges of the Police
Court may commit boys to the reform
school. and the act of July 8. 1883. which
applies to girls under eighteen years of
age. The children who may be committed
20 the reform schools are divided by Judge
himball into four classes. namely: Those
convicted of any offence the punishment
Tor which might be Imprisonment in Jail
or penitentiary: those charged with any
onence the punishment for which on con-
Viction might be Imprisonment in jail or
prison, upon consent of his parents or
guardian; children destitute of a suitable
nome or adequate means of earning an
honest living or in danger of being brought
up 10 lead an idle or vicious life. and
lastly, those shown to be incorrigible.
Judge kimball also informs the Commits
sloners that in accordance with the act of
July 70. lS92. creating the Board of Chill
dren Guardians. various classes of chill
dren may be committed by that board as
follows: ALI who are subjected to cruel
treatment, willful abuse. neglect. or any
chlid under sixteen years OF age found In
mouse of ill-fame; all children destitute
OF suitable homes and adequate means of
support; all abandoned children: all chill
dren having habitually drunken or unfit
parents; all children habitually begging
kept in vicious or immoral associations or
who are found to be incorrigible. Judge
kimbail divides these children into four
classes, namely. those from vicious homes.
those without parents or guardians. habit
ual beggars and incorrigible children.
Comparing the two acts Judge KimbalI
thinks that the first two classes under the
act OF May 3. 1876. may be sent to the
reform schools. and that the other two
classes are also covered by the Board of
Childrens Guardians act and may be sent
to either the reform school or the board.
Ii has been the judges experience that the
reform schools were unable to accommo-
date the children coming under the first
two classes.
We have been compelled" states the
Judge. to turn out a large number of boys
and girls after holding them some weeks
sometimes. because the reform schools
have been unable to take them The
superintendent of the boys school knows
now often We have tried to secure admit
tance for boys charged with crimes and
misdemeancrs without success"
There is very urgent need con-
tinues the letter of Judge Kimball "of
largely increasing the capacity OF both
reform schools. and until that need is
supplied the reform school cannot take
children under the first two divisions
There are in this District an unusually
large number of violators of the municipal
ordinances amongst children and in a large
proportion of cases the parents are unable
to pay the fines and the defendants must
either be sent to the workhouse in de-
fault or be turned out without punishment
and with the idea that they can commit
such offences with impunity The judges
are reluctant to send minors to the work
house but as no separate place has been
provided for their confinement, they are
compelled to do So
Referring to the suggestion of the Com
missioners that the court commit minors
to the Board of Children's Guardians, in
cases other than those coming under the
act of May 3. 1876 Judge Kimball says:
''Informations would have to be filed
under one or the other acts and trial had
as in other cases" He thinks that to take
child away from his parents and COM
init him TO the guardianship of another
would be very serious matter, and one
that ought to be fully sustained by the
evidence which should be OF such a char
acter as TO convince the judge that the
best interests of the child and the COM
munity require such action on his part.
The court added Judge Kimball, would
not be warranted in extending the law be-
yond its strict letter.
Judge Kimball informs the Commission
ers that their suggestions would require
the judge, where child under sixteen
years of age is shown to be guilty of any
minor offence against the laws of the
District to postpone the further hearing
without imposing a sentence and commit
the child to the very workhouse COM
planned of. to remain there until addi-
tional enquiry be made concerning the
presence or absence of salutary control in