The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-10-06
RESULTS OF PROBATION.
Work of This Department of the Danbury
Conn.,, City Court Under Capt, c. A. Colcord'

SoHHsy wy CouTl CHucI Ndps, " "A. NOlCOFu
The annual report recently submit
ed to the State by the probation officer
of the local city court, Capt, G. A. Col
cord, would seem to indicate by compar-
ison with figures submitted by similar
officers from other cities that the work
here has been in the hands of very con-
scientious and judicial officer, and that
it has been as successful as, perhaps
more so, than in any other city.
During the past year, Capt. Colcord
had 81 cases, of which fifty-fve could be
said TO be successful, in that the objects
of the probation were accomplished. In
toward reformation has been made.
OF the 81 cases put on probation in
charge of Capt Colcord, II were men, Is
were boyS,3 were women, and was girl
The probation has been violated by only
6 of these, four men and two boys, of
whom one man and one boy ran away.
The causes for which these prisoners
| came before the court We're various
| Some were for drunkenness, some for
| non support of wife or children, and in
the eases OF boys for trespass, breach of
| the peace and theft, with one or two for
| incorrigibility.
| Some of the assault cases were family
rows, and Capt. Colcord, with rare good
| Judgment, gave advice to the offenders
and the offended ones that has apparent
| ly resulted, by reason of being acted up
on, in a reduction of the friction be
tween disagreeing residents of one or
| two neighborhOods. This, of course.
| was Incidental to the work of looking
after those who got into the clutches of
| the law by reason of quarrels and fami-
ly rows.
| Ii one were to look over the record of
the cases which Capt. Colcord has had,
and especially those which have been
successfully disposed of, the benefits of
the work could be seen.
One, for instance, was a case of a boy
who was considered to be incorrigible,
his parents sharing that opinion and
being compelled to invoke the aid of the
court to restrain him. He was placed
| on probation, which he would never
have lived up to probably if the officer
had not followed him up and by kind
ness and Judicious talking made him
feel that the officer was his friend and
| that the best thing for him to do was to
| placed on farm, and at last accounts.
although released from probation, he
| was doing well;
| Another case was that of a Young
man, of good character and reputation,
! who was fined heavily for the violation
OF the game laws. With the aid of the
probation system he was able to pay his
fine in installments and so escape the
odium of term in Jail, which otherwise
would have been his fate.
The officer has had numerous cases of
husbands and fathers who were arrest
ed for non-support. Without exception
these have paid to the probation officer
or to wife the weekly amount ordered
by the court.
Danbury has been fortunate in the
selection of the probation officer, for
Capt. Colcord, besides being man of
! firmness and accustomed to the COM
mand of men when to command was to
be obeyed, experience gained as sea
captain, is thoroughly interested in
the work of reforming people, boys and
girls especially, who have started OH
the down road, and he believes that one
Of the ways to do this is to keep them
out of Jail while at the same time hold
ing them under some kind OF restraint
which will keep them from bad acts.
Judge Howard B. Scott, of the local city
court, also seems to be thoroughly in
terested in the success of the probation
system, exercising his authority where
ever possible to place offenders on pro-
baton, which usually insures good con-
duct for considerable time at least. -
Danbury, Ct, News.