Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-17
PENAL LAWS REFORM
The State Bar Association Has
Taken Steps Looking to
Some Changes
JUVENILE DELINQUENT SYSTEM
One of the Most important Features Of
the Proposed Legislation Is the Pro-
vision for the Care and Reformation
of Youthful cririnals-Us
of the lndeterminats Sentence
Special 70 Times Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Dec. 17-There will
| unquestionably be much legislation at
the neNt session of the general assem-
bly, relating to the subject of reforma-
| ton of the penal laws of the state.
Various associations and societies have
urged this at one time or another. The
State Bar Association has taken steps
| looking to some changes The various
| humane societies have done something
! and the state board of control has re-
| peatediy urged that in the matter OF
projecting society from the evils of a
| large criminal class. the state of Iowa
snail make an attempt TO catch up
| with the procession. 1t is believed that
Governor CumminS Will refer to this
matter In his forthcoming message to
the legislature and urge that the as
| semblyncn give consideration to bills
that LOOK to reform in penal laws and
methods of treating certain classes OF
detectives and dangerous. The gov
ernor is known to have given the sub
ject some consideration and to nave
reached the conclusion, from his own
brief experience in the considera ton of
parole applications. that something
ought to be done. The board of control
is thoroughly committed to some def
mite action. AT the conference here
this week. Judge G.. S. Robinson. of
the board of control, who Is also pres
idsnt OF the State Conference of Char
tiles and Corrections. read a paper
which outlines pretty we'll what is 10
be attempted and what ought to be
dona as a starter In the direction Of
reforming the laws. His conclusions
We're in favor of the following pro-
gram:
The inspection OF county, city and
town prisons by state authority with a
power TO inquire into and correct
abuses.
"A system for the proper care of ju-
yenile delinquents which shall include
large discretion in the courts having
jurisdiction OF them. special treatment,
segregation from other offenders, sup
ervision by officers of the courts, and
confinement only as a last resort
"a reformatory for males between
the ages of 16 and 30, convicted for
the first time of offenses less than muir
der, modelled and conducted somewhat
on the Elmira PLAN also a similar re-
formatory for females between the
ages of 16 and %.
"A well guarded law permitting the
suspension OF sentences of persons
convicted of minor offenses.
The tndetermihate sentence. applied
to all crimes punished by Imprisonment
in the reformatory and In the paniten-
tiary for less than life.
"A board TO have jurisdiction of par
oles and pardons for all persons con-
fined in the prisons of the state other
than industrial Schools for terms less
than life.
Supervision of all persons released
on parole from places of confinement,
maintained by the state. with author
ity TO find suitable places and em-
ployment for all such persons needing
Them"
Judge Robinson referred to the fact
that criminals may be divided into two
classes. the accidental criminals and
those who are criminal by nature or
practice. Every convict should be pre-
sumed to be OF the first class until 1t
is shown that he is OF the second. With
careful and Intelligent treatment, most
of the accidental criminals may be
reclaimed and made good citizens,
while few of the second class, If at
liberty. will long refrain from crime.
But in regard to the duty of the state
in taking care of the children who are
of evil tendecies or bad surroundings,
the Judge had some emphatic views.
"'The laws of this state he declared.
make no provision for the special care
of that class OF children untn they have
qualified themselves by bad conduct for
the Industrial schools or the peniten-
tlaries II a child charged with
criminal offense be brought before a
court. ii must try him and IL found
guilty, must sentence him to fine or
Imprisonment. or both, and the sentence
must be carried into effect forthwith,
or before Judgment of conviction Is
entered. the child must be sent to one
of the industrial schools. The modern
and most approved plan for the treat
nient of such children Is to give Juris-
diction OF them to a court vested with
large discretionary powers as 10 the
methods TO be pursued. The court may,
in its discretion, try or refuse to try
the child but in either case may ad-
monish him and release him condition
ALI, under the supervisory care of
bationaly officer, or the court may
secure employment for him, or home
and foster parents thru adoption, or
may send him to a parental school, or
make other suitable provision for him.
Under this method each child Is stud
led and treated according to his indi-
yidual needs He is not sent to jail,
is not confined with hardened Offenders,
and Is kept separate from all other de-
linuuents IE this manner the dread
of further procedure and of imprison-
ment remains with him as a deterrent
influence and he is kept as free as
possible from knowledge of criminals
and criminal methods. If the child be
not susceptible to reformatory lnfiu-
ences the court may send him to
reformatory or intlict such other pun
ishment as shall seem best suited to