The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-10
JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

a Citizens Club on Tuesday night So
licitor General Osborne approved, in
strong terms, the movement for a re-
formatory. AS is well known the
judges of the Superior and City Courts
approve it, and are doing all they can
for its success. These three officials
are better qualified than other citizens
tuition. They come in contact, almost
daily, with juvenile offenders. hear the
pitiful stories of their barren. loveless
lives. know their surroundings and the
temptations to which they are ex-
posed, realize how little there is in
their environments to encourage them
to be honest, and, therefore, are ADLER
than others to judge how much better
it would be for them and for society if
they could be placed in an institution
where they would be free from debas-
ing influences and examples, and where
an effort would be made to teach them
to be clean, decent. honest and indus
trious.
There is no need to enter into an ar
gument to show that they should not
be confined with hardened criminals.
That is admitted. The power may ex-
list to place them where they will be-
come worse-where they will become
so diseased morally that they will
never have the will power nor even
the inclination to become self-respect.
ing and useful citizens. but surely
there can be no such right.
The American Law Review, for jan
uary and February, in discussing
Criminals and their treatment" says
that Juveniles who offend against the
law should have the most careful at
tention of the state. They should never
be dealt with harshly. They should
be made to understand that society is
for their good and not for their dis
grace and degradation. If they once
find that public opinion is against them
they are apt to become what the world
considers them to be. Once convict a
child of crime, imprison and disgrace
him, and he is almost certain to be-
come a social outcast and a habitual
criminal. But, on the other hand, if he
is dealt with charitably and reason
ably, and made to feel that the state is
his friend, and not his enemy, he will
nearly always make useful citizen"
Here we have the whole matter con-
cisely stated. Deal with juvenile Of
tenders with entire Indifference in re-
gard to their future and you make
hardened criminals of them, who viii
prey upon society and be burden
upon taxpayers by increasing the cost
of the machinery of justice, but deal
with them gently and mercifully, reach
out a helping hand to them, and the
great majority will become useful citi-
zens.
The main objection urged against
reformatory is the cost. The taxpay-
ers are afraid that it will be made an
excuse for creating half a dozen more
places, and they consider taxes are
now about as high as they can stand.
AS a rule, it is, of course, true that
the politicians and those who live by
politics will increase the number of Of
ficers on the slightest excuse for doing
so. We do not see, however, why
great expense should attend such a re-
formatory as is proposed in this coun-
fy. The Solicitor General says the ex-
pense ought not to exceed $75 or 800 a
month. A building, so situated on the
county farm that the Juvenile Offend
ers would not come in contact with
the hardened criminals, would be nee
essary and there would have to be a
couple of guards. The boys, however,
could be made to almost earn their
living on the farn-provided they were
wisely and intelligently directed. There
would be a school, of course, indus
trial in character. but in which read
ing. writing and arithmetic would be
taught. We have no doubt that the
County Commissioners could so cut
down expenses in certain directions
that it would not be necessary to in
crease the tax rate.
The question of reformatory is one that
should be given most thoughtful con-
sideration by every voter. The day
when it is to be decided is close at
hand.