The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22
Juvenile Court of Indianapolis
Designed to Reform Boys and Girls
Mrs. Helen NJ. Rogers; the
Probation Officer, Has a
Woman Assistant. Men
and Women of the City
Lend Their Aid Freely
in the Work II ~ ~ II

helping the court i'm every possible way to
look after unfortunate children OF the
total number of officers enrolled so far,
onlv eighty have had children under their
charge. and at the present time fifty-one
are looking after the wards of the court.
However. all of the officers are greatly in
terested in their work. and each one is
anxious for his turn to come TO have
child under his charge.
The probation officers are among the best
people of the city. both men and women.
Many of them are business men of high
standing. and also d number of clergymen
and professional men have enlisted and are
majority of men who have taken up this
probation work are men of affairs who have
very little time of their own. but they are
willing to give up a portion of each day
to the boys under their charge; and in this
way the boy girl who has committed an
offense is made to feel that there is some
hope for them and that they are at least
considered. This awakens the spark of
pride which has been found TO exist in the
majority of children.
Those connected with the court say that
the work of these voluntary probation Off
of 24O children placed on probation, fewer
than twenty-five have been brought into
court again charged with offending the
law. The beneficial feature of the proba-
ton system can be seen when it is realized
that nearly $50 children who have been
guilty of some gTievous offense are being
reformed and cared for without any ex-
pense to the State or county.
But notwithstanding the great saving in
Cost by the judicious application of the
probation system, the best effect is seen
in the children themselves The work OF
the probation officers has proven so bene-
fetal with the boys and girls committed to
their care by the court that in January of
this year the officials of the court ar
ranged with the board of managers of the
Indiana Boys School that all boys there
after Daroled from that institution belong
ing to this county be brought into the
Juvenile Court by the superintendent and
turned over TO the court for supervision.
The court has agreed to place these pa
rolled boys under the charge of probation
officers and to find employment and de.
cent boarding places for them. A large
number of manufacturing concerns have
promised to take the boys, and where they
prove themselves worthy they soon work
up into good positions.
There are four officers connected with
the court besides the Judge Two probation
officers are on pay. Mrs. Helen w. Rogers,
chief probation officer, and Miss Clara
Burnsides, assistant probation officer. 1T
is the duty of these women when a boy is
arrested to secure all information pertain
ing to his past life, both at home and al
school This is laid before the judge, so
when the case comes up he will know just
what kind of a boy he is dealing with.
ADMIRABLY FITTED.
Both of these women are admirably fitted
for the places they FILL They have great
ability for the execution of the work in
which they are engaged. and take an active
interest in it. They both had considerable
experience in charity work of various kinds
before taking IN the duties or probation
officers. and they have always been very
successful in all their undertakings.
The clerk OF the court is Herbert Joiner.
He is appointed by County Clerk Davis,
and his duties are along the same lines as