Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-09
JUVENILE COURT LAW
Continued from Page Four.)

these boys, said. A petty imitation
of their elders made criminals of the
boys, and the same crime on large
scale made protected and even prom
nent citizens of the men. The great
wealth they gained by crime seemed
actually in some quarters to add re-
spectability and political power to the
men. 1t brought the policemen and
his club to the boys"
THE Chicago car barn bandits who
were hung year or two ago, when
asked what led them into crime, said,
Cheap, bad literature and the police
mans club They said they had
been kicked, cuffed and dubbed by the
policemen for every offense until they
had taken an oath to kill as many of
them as they could" These are ex-
aggerated cases, but they serve to IL
lus'trate the principle that the Jail and
the policemen are poor factors in the
reformation Of bad boy.
This leads me to consider the pro-
baton officer provided for in the law
1t provides that the court may APP
poi,Ht one or more discreet persons Of
good moral character to serve as pro-
baton officers during the pleasure of
lnts court, Sdlu pIpbatioi oiiiSri' W
receive no compensation from the
public treasury.
1t is made the duty of the proba-
ton officer to make such investiga-
ton as to any child that may be
brought before the court as may b."
required by the court; to be present
in court in order to represent the IN
terests Of the child when the case Is
heard to furnish the court such infor-
nation and assistance as the judge
may require; and to take such charge
of any child before and after trial as
may be directed by the court.
These duties are very important and
some provision should be made for
the payment Of this officer out of the
public funds.
Many of the states that passed a
juvenile court law, at first did not pro-
vide for the payment at public ex-
pense of the probation officer; most
of the states that passed such law
during the past two years did provide
for such compensation. The last legfs-
lature of Illinois amended the law and
provided that the county board should
fix the amount of their salaries, while
the circuit court Judges are to fix the
number Of officers.
The Michigan law provides: That
each governor may appoint in each
county of the state an agent Of the
STATE hoard of correction and chari-
ties, whose duties are fully defined by
the act, and such agent shall receive
as compensation for his services his
necessary official expenses together
with the sum of three dollars in full
for each day ordered by the court:
the superintendent of any state insti-
tuition, or the state board Of correction
and charities, but not exceeding three
dollars for any one days service. The
Importance of this office and the good
that may be done under it entities Its
holder to compensation.
Judge Orrin N. Carter says: "The
probation system, II rightly managed
and. if proper persons are employed
as probation officers, will more surely
build up the characters of children and
make them good citizens than If they
were placed in institutions"
Every juvenile court law in the land
had the probation system in it and it
has proved efficient and almost indis-
pensable to the success OF the sys-
tenn. 1t is said that boys do not try
to hide from the probation officer. nor
while held in detention try to escape
o.. run away, but soon come to learn
that he is his best friend and IS try
ing to help him, and he gives such Off
Ger his confidence.
So far have been speaking mainly
of delinquent children, who are incorri-
H.. ,S-IN AeI avr{, tH7sS
statute or ordinance, and while all the
powers of the court referred to and
disposition of the child herein apply
In some measure to the dependent or
neglected child, yet for such the law
opens up "a large field of work for and
among such which need only Incl
dentally to be brought to the atten-
ton and consideration of the court.
The law defines dependent or neg
lected children "shall mean any child
who for any reason is destitute, or
homeless or abandoned; or dependent
upon the public for support; or who
has not proper parental care or guar
tlianship; or who habitually begs, or
receives aims or who is found living
in any house of i'll fame, or with any
vicious or disreputable person; or
whose home, by reason Of neglect,
cruelty, or depravity, on the part OF
its parents or guardian or other per-
son in whose care it may be, is an
unfit place for such child: and any
child under the age of ten years who
is found begging or giving any pub
lie entertainment upon the street for
pecuniary gain for self or another; or
or ic 11Cn6 IN aid of
any person so doing; or who, by rea-
son of other vicious, base or corrupt
ing surroundings, is. in the opinion
of the court, within the spirit Of this
act"
While any child who comes within
the above definition may be taken be-
fore the court by any person having
knowledge Thereof by information and
belief and the court may dispose of
such child as herein explained, yet the
same may be done without the aid of
the court If the parents are willing
and the parents of such children may
enter into an agreement with any as
ISOLATION or institution incorporated
under any law of this state for the
purpose of aiding, caring for, or plac-
ing In homes such children, to be taken
and cared for by such association or
institution or put in a family home,
and such institution may by its agent
Or attorney consent to the legal adop-
ton of said child and the order of the
court made upon such consent shall
be binding upon the child and its par
ents or guardian or other person. the
same as il such person We're person.