Evening star., 1902-01-09
JUVENILE OFFENDERS
Movement for Special Sessions Of
Court for Trials.
CONFERENCE HELD THIS AFTERNOON
Views of Major Sylvester, Super
intendent of Police.
THE JUDGES INTERESTED

Arrangements have been made for a
meeting late this afternoon in the office of
District Commissioner Macfarland for the
purpose of making arrangements for the
holding of sessions of the Police Court for
the trial of Juvenile offenders. Judges
Ivory G. Kimball and Charles F. Scott and
Prosecuting Attorneys Pugh and Mullowny
are to meet the Commissioners and discuss
the matter.
1t is known that the suggestion has been
made that the juvenile court be held twice
a week. the sessions to be held after the
sessions of the regular court. The matter
is one in which the parties named are very
much interested.
In his last annual report Maj. Sylvester
dwelt at length upon the question of deal
ing with children and women, and said
That the judges of the Police Court
should be authorized to arrange and pro-
vide for the hearing and trial of the classes
to which l have referred after the judges
shall have determined the regular sessions
of their respective courts, resolving them
selves into a court for the trial of women
and children, with authority to invoke such
privacy as may be in their Judgment be
warranted in order to shield the prisoners
against humiliation and improper influ-
enceS.
Appointment of Bailiffs.
There should be appointed by the Dis
trict Commissioners bailiffs to the number
of five for duty in the Police Court, in lieu
of policemen, who are now detailed for such
purposes. The coming into contact with
such officials in the court room will have
tendency to soften the fears and prejudices
which naturally exist in the minds of wo-
men and children at the thought of being
in custody of policeman.
There should be appointed by the Dis
trict Commissioners at least two truant Of
ficers, who should be men of intelligence
and have the powers and authority of men,
bers of the metropolitan police force and
receive a salary of at least 81 200 per
mum. In addition to the police authority
they should be authorized to enter premises
upon the written order of any judge of the
police or criminal courts to procure per-
sons who might be released on probation or
personal bonds or furlough by any of said
judges, and in every way be under the di
rection and in the service of the Judges of
the courts aforesaid, and be paid as are
other employees of the District government.
when, in the opinion of any of the said
judges, a prisoner of the class referred to
should be released on proba ton during good
behavior, the judge who determines the case
should give the name, address and all facts
known to him concerning the prisoner to
one of the truant officers, who should
thereafter familiariZe himself with the con-
duct and department of said prisoner, and
keep informed as to the prisoner for such
period as the judge might require: and
snoulu the conduct ana deportment or the
prisoner released on probation be of
such character as to call for complaint
on the part of the truant officer having the
case in charge, or of any other person or
persons of good reputation, the truant Off
Ger shall, If possible, reproduce the pris-
oner before the judge who tried the case
that he may be resentenced. And frequent
complaints from persons other than truant
officers about prisoners under their super
vision should be cause for removal Of such
truant officers.
"Truant officers should be required to
make monthly reports of all matters re-
lating to their work to the judges of the
Police Court for their approval
There should be stenographer or official
reporter for the Police Court, whose duty
1t should be to take down and transcribe
for court record an abstract of all proceed
ings in the class Of cases I have mentioned
He should be appointed by the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia and be al
lowed a salary of at least $1,000 per an
mum, to be paid as are other employees of