Evening star., 1902-08-05
ITS BENEFIT AS A REFORMATORY
INSTITUTION.
Maj. Sylvester Speaks Of the Care
Taken to Prevent Young People
From Becoming Criminals.

nave 10 De met Dy the police authorities In
all large centers of population.
The initial idea for a house of detention
was fostered by Senator Mcmillan and Ma
jor Sylvester. and the wisdom of the judg
ment of these gentlemen has been we'll
demonstrated. In fact, Washington was the
first city to inaugurate the plan, and the
house of detention has now been in opera
tion long enough to show by results what
has been accomplished and the possibilities
Of the future.
when l was in Louisville last May in
attendance upon the ninth annual conven-
tion of the International Association of
Chiefs of Police" said Major Sylvester to
Star man this morning, "a committee of
ladies called upon me and asked me to ex-
plain the practical workings of the Wash
ington house of detention, and they showed
the keenest appreciation when 1 told them
how much good we were doing in the capi-
tai
Especially for Women and Children.
In most cities they have advanced a step
in line in providing matrons in the station
houses, and we have matron in the sta
tion house of precinct No. 1. But this does
not go far enough. 1t is our object to save
young people, male and female who might
nave hrst offenses in crime or misdemean-
ors charged against them, and such women
as nave not become hardened criminals
from the unhappy influences, experiences
and evil impressions gained by imprison-
ment in police station cells
1t seems a sad thing to lock I'D Young
boys and girls, and women who are not
hardened. in the cell of police station vet
such is the course pursued in most cities
1or where else are they to go? They are
placed under arrest for one cause or an
other. and with the average police officer
he does not look beyond the mere perform
ance or his duty in making an arrest There
is scarcely week that our depot detectives
are not obliged to take in charge stranded
women. often with several children They
are homeless, penniless and hungry Under
the old system they must perforce have
peen taken to the station house and been
conhned until provision was made for their
deportation to their destination or other
means for their maintenance was provided.
Lost children picked up by the police
were taken to the station house and kept
until claimed. The details Of police are CON
stantly shifting, and station house Is a
poor place for child at any time Now
they go to the house Of detention are ca red
LOT py the matrons, given food and atten-
tion. the alarm is sent out and when res
cued are but little worse for their experi-
ence.
Mildly demented and aged persons who
nave loSt their way are likewise suitably
cared for amid surroundings that give no
evidence of police associations and scores of
other people of different classes are thus
numanely and kindly temporarily provided
Washington Ahead Of Other Cities.
Washlngtonians may feel proud of the
splendid results which have accrued in the
brief time that the house Of detention has
been established, and from the talks I had
with chiefs of police Of other cities It
Will not be long before the plan will be-
come universal, its merits are so many and
SO far reaching.
1T Is boys and girls under sixteen how
ever. that the system reaches and protects
from the bad associations of minglinx with
Offenders arrested for the usual causes.
When 1t is remembered that last wear there
were arrested 1,743 boys and 13O girls nm
der this age, philanthropists and penolo-
glsts may see what we are doing in Wash
lnston toward setting these unfortunates
on the road to better lives in segregatine
them from offenders in the Police Court
dock and keeping them out Of the cells of
a police station. OF these 1875 boys and
girls 627 were white and 1,248 colored
These youthful offenders are washed and
scrubbed at the house of detention where
cleanliness in all things rs an axiom which
is rigid1y enforced. They are lodged in
comfortable rooms, given clean beds and
night clothes. something to eat of good
quality of food. the attendants are not in
the uniforms Of the police, and every detail
IN the self-elevattng process being as per-
rect as the quarters and appropriation per-
init. Contrast this too brief description Of
humane treatment with the old system Of
throwing these helpless children, often held
on the most petty charges, into a police
station house cell to spend horrible night.
in the morning to be carted to the Police
Court with a lot Of hardened offenders,
placed in the dock and scared almost to
death by the horrors of the night and the
hurly-burly Of the Police Court room.
They are taken to the Police Court ine
van driven by man in plain clothes, and
to the average person the van has no ap-
pearance Of being a vehicle used for police
purposes.
Thanks to Senator Mcmillan.
The Juvenile courts are held by the DO
lice judges upon certain days of the week
after the regular docket has been disposed
Of. Thus. every effort is made to save
these first offenders from the humiliation
Of arrest and the degradation of crime.
am glad to say that in many instances our
efforts are successful. and we rescue hum
dreds Of first offenders yearly from the
streets and lead them into paths which will
make good citizens Of them. Other cities
are bound sooner or later to follow our ex-
ample, for 1t Is now recognized that the
youthful offender must be kept separated
from the common herd under arrest and
this we succeed in doing in Washington on
an appropriation of only 5000 a year.
though with greater funds our lines of
practical reform could be still farther ex-
tended.
II IS 10 senator MCMILLAN that Washing
tonians largely owe this modern method OF
dealing with crime by striking at the very
root. For practical results, for the lifting
up of our youth who have gone astray, for
the ultimate lessening of crime, for a hu-
name and benevolent treatment Of prob
lem which has occupied penologists for
years, the house of detention and its ac-
companying system cannot be excelled. 1t
is subject to which Senator Mcmillan has
given much personal attention, and it was
largely through his personal efforts that
the appropriation was secured.
I'm short" concluded Major Sylvester
"our system of dealing with youthful first
offenders and women who are not hardened
has been SO successful that the results
justify all that is claimed Boys in cities
are open to many temptations and may
easily be led astray by evil associat tons
and companions. To save these unfortu-
nate lads from q life of crime is our object.
and the efforts Of the police are more than
rewarded when we rescue fair proportion
Of those who fall and start them on the
road to an upright life"