The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-01
PROBATIONERS
REPORTING DAY
Officer Wallace Has a Busy
Time Receiving tho Boys.
NEED OF A R0ME IN THIS CITY
He Thinks Such a Institution Wsu'd Be
Of Great Value 10 Retaining Wayuard
Youths.
NEED OF A RoME IN THIS CITY

Yesterday was busy one with Proba-
ton officer Wallace. Notwithstanding
that II was Sunday. for IL was the day
for large number Of the boys now on
probation by the Sixth district court to
report to him. according to the conditions
OF their probation.
The usual reporting day is the first
Sunday in the mouth. but yesterday being
the last day of November the boys were
Instructed to report then. During the
day about $50 boys repcrrea.
That the probation law is working
splendidly is shown by the statement
made by Mr. Wallace that a very large
majority OF the boys never give him any
trouble. and very few of them are ever
arrested a second time. Not over FIVE
In hundred. Mr.. wallact said, we're sent
20 the reform school for lapsing a second
time. and not over ten in a hundred were
ever arrested a second time
The boys report TO MIR. Wallace month.
ly. telling him what they are doing and
what they have been doing for the 80 days
since last reporting,
Mr.. Wallace is strongly OF the opinion
that a probation home Is needed In this
city, and that IL would work lots of good
10 the boys so disposed of Dy the uis LrIc [
court. In speaking of this subject yester-
uay he saIu:
IF a great many OF these boys who are
now prooationers could be saved from
the home lie tnat In theirs. there wouIu
be far less trouble with tnem and very
lew or them would need to be kept on the
continued roll OF probation cases for two
or three years. az Is some tunes tne case
Il am the last To ~ant to oreak up the
family life. and where boy has good,
or even fair Influences about him at home
4 would never want to remove him from
them 10 any institution while he IL under
my charge. / visit many homes In the
course OF my work. however and in num-
bers OF them the conditions are anything
but satisfactory
The father or the mother. and fire.
quently both. are hard drinkers. and with
IL Is about the worst possible environ
ment Tor a boy whom someone is trying
To help TO do better.
10 place a boy on probation. talk TO
him and endcavor 10 show him higher
ideals. as well as implant In his mind the
idea that we are working 10 save him. and
then send him back TO such n homc-lt IL
time and effort In a good fpany Instances
thrown away.
What We need is some place where
such BOYS can be sent by the authority
OF the court or the probation officer i'm
media tely, after being placed on the pro-
baton list From such a place OF refuge
for them. managed by toe right kind OF
persons I'm time work could be secured
for them. and reformation might begin
the very moment they set foot within It's
doors
This is needed let 10 bo understood.
for boys toward whom the helping hand Is
extended before the doors OF the reform
school open TO them. I say nothing
against the reform school-and 7 believe
Rhode Island has as good a one as there
is In New England-but we want TO save
the boys from going there and from en-
during the stigma OF commitment
"Rv The probationary system alone Is
that possible I believe. The beneficial
effects OF that system would unquestion-
ably be inmeasurably heightened by the
Establishment Of q probationary home"