The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-03
SAVE THE CHILDREN.
Proposed Measure for Prison
Reform.

In the state senate today the most
interesting bills introduced had to do
with penal reform in Kansas one being
for the establishment of juvenile courts
and the other regulating paroles issued
by judges Of district and lesser courts.
This is another bill for indeterminate
sentence
The juvenile court bill authorizes the
institution of courts for the control of
offenders under the age of 16 who have
never been in the custody of any state
institution or in one operating under q
state charter. Probate judges are made
the presiding judges of the juvenile
courts and shall appoint probation Of
have the privilege of reporting to the
court or to a probation officer his knOWl-
edge of any delinquent" child which
shall then be brought before the court
for trial.
No child under the age of Is shall be
committed by a juvenile court to the
state reform school or any prison. The
court is authorized to place any delin-
quent child in any charitable institution
intended for the care of such child or
may place them in private families
either at board or under adoption. At
his discretion the court may continue
the hearing of any child brought before
him, subject to the control and vista
tion of the probation officer. The child
IS virtually placed under parole by this
measure. The bill authorizes the ap-
/
officers. Any child arrested by an offl-
Ger of any other court shall be turned
overtto the juvenile court and the officer
making the arrest shall be bound
to inform a probationary officer. Any
institution receiving a child from ju-
venile court shall be subject to vista
tiOn and inspection. In cases where the
parents are found to be financially able
to support a child they may be forced
by the court to provide for the expense
of caring for it under shelter other than
that of their own home.
Senator Smith is also fathering a bill
for the undeterminate sentence of pris-
oners convicted of miSdemeanOrs OF
/ felonies in the state, county or munic-
+ ipal courts The bill has been prepared
under the supervision of Warden
+ JeWett, Warden McLaughry, Judge T.
/ F. Carver and Rev. E. A. Fredenhagen
of the Kansas Society for the Friend
/ less. Governor Bailey has given it his
consideration and approves of it. IN
der this bill any prisoner convicted in
a district or a lower court shall be SEN
/ fenced to the penitentiary with nc
stated term of imprisonment Upon
good behavior the prisoner may be re-
+ leased on parole, subject to the control
of the warden and prison board.
This bill has some strong features. II
is conservative. embOdying only such
/ features as have been tried and proved
in states where the indeterminate sen
1 tence is in force. 1t places the paroling
power III the hands OF the warden and
prison board who know the prisoner
/ personally and are better able to judge
as to his fitness. It secures for friend
I less prisoners the same opportunities
as for those with influence. 1tlengthenS
the terms of incorrigibIe criminals an6
shortens those of first offenders and
accidental delinquents. 1t gives t.
each prisoner the hope of liberty as ar
incentive to reform and it saves tbs
state thousands of dollars for the main
tenance of men in the prison who car
safely have their liberty.
The parole bill has been talked ol
before. Under it a prisoner upon con
viction of any of the lesser felonies
may be given his liberty at the discre-
ton of the judge before whom he /:
tried. At all times until the time Of tbs
1 suspended sentence shall e1apse he vii
be under the watch Of the court and
must make monthly reports of his con
duct. At any time the JUDGE shall Nav'
+ power to issue a commitment under
which he must serve the full time O
his sentence