The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-25
CITY N 3 VS..
A GOOD MEASURE | J: !. ) ] |
Judge II. D.. Diokinson's Views Of
the New Law Affecting Juve-
nile Criminals.
Regulations Largely Anticipated in
This County-some Unneces-
sary Requirements.

The actual practice of the local munic-s
ipal court and OF the other local authori-s
ties will not be changed by the act APP
proved Tuesday "for the isolation of jul
veniles charged with crime from adults.
so charged, and the isolation Of said ju-
veniles, at their trial, from idle public
gaze" sE- ~ ~ s&f: ss
These provisions said Judge H. d.
Dickinson of the municipal court to-day,
'are already in effect here so far as facil-
tiles will permit. Juveniles are not sent,
to the workhouse. They go either to the
state training school or to the county jail.
At the jail the sheriff has separate cells
for boys. He keeps them practically apart
from the older prisoners, yet he has no
place where boys can be put altogether
out Of hearing of the hardened criminals.
The law as just passed says the sheriff
must provide a separate place Of tconfne-
ment' for the infants SO that they shall
not come in contact with prisoners Of
greater age or have intercourse with
such older prisoners Whether the pres
ent practice is full compliance with the
new law isn't quite clear, but undoubtedly
the sheriff is doing the best he can.
1.-The second section, providing that
children under II shall not be committed
to any jail or police station but must be
ced under the care Of some public
officer or probation officer in some suit
able place which shall be provided by the
city or county, is in harmony with our
rule. We hand such prisoners over to
City Probation Officer Holt. Thru the
courtesy Of the county commissioners he
has obtained a room in which he might
keep his naughty young friends. But I'M
til this new law was passed neither the
county nor the city was legally obliged
| to furnish any suitable place =
THE third section, requiring the mag
istrate at the trial of juvenile to ex:.
c111da from the cO11rt al o>--
cept the officers of the court including
attorneys, the witnesses and the relatives
Of the accused, is also in the right direc-
ton, but I can hardly approve 1t so unre-
servedly as I can the other sections.
think the law should permit the judge to
persons excluded. Ever since a year ago
last March I have been in the habit of
| asking the general public to withdraw
when l was going to try juvenile pris-
oner. The presence of the crowd, think,
is bad for the child. The trial is too pub
lie, and it tends to harden him. Then it. s
Impossible, when a crowd is present to
waive formalities and talk with a child
so as to learn the exact facts Of the case.
Yet If a judge wishes to understand chill
! dren and make the best provision for their
future he must put himself in loco PARENTS
and gain their confidence. The law, how
ever, as it is now, would force us to keep
out officers Of societies, officers that might
be much interested in the welfare of a
prisoner and in full understanding of his
case. We would have to exclude news
paper men also. That isn't good public
policy, and it's wholly unnecessary Nc
reputable newspaper will publish facts
after the court has requested that such
| facts be not printed.
But, aside from the comments have
made upon the last section, I should say
that the new law is a necessary and
wholesome measure"