New-York tribune., 1899-03-27
q PROBATION" IN BOSTON.
A SYSTEM TRIED IN THE COURTS OF
THAT CITY WITH SUCCESS.
OFFENDERS AIDED ~ THE WAY oF REFORM
ny TITS APPLICATION TO WOMEN

ny TITS APPLICATIONS TO WOMEN
Boston March D CspeclaD -several Nev-vork
Judges and phianthropists have come 10 this city
recently 70 investigate tho practical workings ~
the probation system" OF tho Boston courts. the
only In operation In the world snd Probation
Officer Keefe today Informed The Tribune cofr"-
spondent that . determined effort would b" made
IN pass bill through the Nev-York Legislature
for such system IN the New-York courts
This system Is step beyond the simple Justice
OF the criminal courts Justice II here supplemental
by practical humanity The system is dlrert aif
10 the court I'm tho admnstraton ~ Justice and
n OF inca culabe benefit 20 the community and ~"
Individual because % lts work IN IN" compulsory
reformation or offenders under tho penalty ~
sentence hanging over tho heads OF those under
its care in case they relapse
For eight years the system has been in opern-
ton in this clty and the result ls that the courts
and the police could get along without y
now u T. an essential part of the crimna. meohau-
ism j. is unique IN the police and court depart
ments o, the world Vermont has just passed law.
FOR a probation system. hut they arc not yof 30
practical working order Rhode Island has nitro
duccd the plan FOR The supervision - Juveniles
Only
The German British Swiss and Canadian gov
ernments through their American representatives,
have Officially asked for FUN Information ~ fh'
working OF the plan and these reports are nov
on file IN these countries where a strong onorvs
making for the enactment OF laws introducing fhe
scheme In the machinery % tho courts there
-. ,-o,, .oy.,,t loree American ci,es have
Judges rom s'F'''' us -,
aSo Interested ih'mN'N'H pm '"' WIZ
In an interview to-day. Probation orcer k"ef"
,..l ~, ,b. derartm.nf here and th, originator 90
the system said
WISE AND BENEFICIAL.
.Arer a number OF wears trial - me prcsert
fys'en - probation r mas become on established
feet among the people OF Musaachusctts tha' iu
the administration u Justice th, probation system
mas ueeh "o'" WIZ ""' -. 80. .
ing that IN v'rJ many cases '' '' ''.'' '' wy '"
The duties % the probation Officers nr" 90 In
,ne criminal courts to report to tho Judge ne
'''" - ,a,.....,,,,,, uhe, t, ore,dor ,.
called for trial 20 help ,hc Court bv an unbiased
hiat'neh' o. '"''s d" ,''' N''
""N 10 ie'''''''''N ''''' -. g.,
form
.yyher the offender are placed ON probation
they told what g. expected oi fhem th'f are
ylsltad IA often as g. practicable and n any vio-
'a'"n "i '"e '''"'' ''''''' .
,ho ,,.-r.,i,p of m. court which placed them on
'ne u,' 'e'''" o' ''' ''''' '''''
The continuation OF the different cases varies
from FIVE weeks 10 year. The Judge continuing me
'"S's 10 sue" nm ,,"e W. Nv, ~. -,
.fg tn. dement's OF probation often AK >or stlll
further conunuance AZ the time when me case
"nH'4 b' IA ,4ta.iy u.sll'.sS'u . 90. ,..,,o,, tas
h, ,"sGs "a v,ib t6e 'tourt 70 pay certain suns In
weekly payments 10 the wife mo probation officers
8 called upon 10 act az medlators. receiving and
uaying oycr 70 the VIE such sums as ne Court
shall designate and 10 thar he agreement is
fsithftlllv compiled with
Many homes m this city made desoate by the
misguided husband or father have ne.n under
the present system. changed 20 homes of comfort
80 fed to -eforr, are now good itlzens no dlug
resnou-i6le places thorough investigation hy
perse 4ier,ra N n the ssIsr,on rssg ho Bas been
a great success IN the way % reforma tion
n-obation ofiicer md his nve men and t~o women
s oceri take the oo asmss @ qf 6 the rcISrd Pg
End irvesfgate the statements of persons arrested
rests -. ...
sons committed for misdemeanors are referred 10
me ccrrred IN Hy the Justice OF the cour
must be Col'I'l'u con t a.,e ~ - ''
~ 80. 90 vhe there were Osl persons dis
,barqed gnd 2s eases favoraby disposed % in the
ta *" " her. were oriy 2e surrendered FOR
sentence and only 25S decauied Forty eight we're
rctl y'lrober or criminal cases inquired during
the wear 35s. and 81 prison release .as"s er
csses reported bv the police ani % these
all the chssse' nu .hs I vork We made 81 specia
investieatous for the Court
JUSTICE AIDED. REFORM ADVANCED.
. ., can .oe how materially We
BY these hguTeS you "a" S'' "'" no
have aided Justice and how many persons We have
saved from needless imprisonment and reformed
from drunkenness anu , rar,,ed .r,
perceptibe decrease 10 crime anu d I""'" M -''
movement IN the morality and sobrietf OF me
community
"Another thing which doing nov Is of
Great benen: TO the public well as 10 the hdi'ld-
III ,bst is fhe securing % situations yor those
~. ,-,h,.ior and for those discharged from cOufne-
80, 80 rhis NOT onlv makes tnem self-supportlng
bu, removes them from the necessity o. resor,ns
again % crime for q livelihood -
o. ne law ~hfm de sos wbinF ReS prefer prison or