The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-23
The First .1u,enIls Courts.

To TIP ENRON or THE SuN-sir. THE SUNs
account OF the visit OF DR. 4 Hartman OF Berlin
TO this country for the purpose OF studying our
courts. and more especially our juvenile courts.
leads me to say that the FIRST juvenile court law
was passed In Rhode Island In 1873.
In September. $40, before Grand jury at ProN-
dcncr OF which was a member. was a charge against
two boys about ~ ycnrs NJ agr, who had climbed
into al opcn window at the rear Of fruii store and
tascr g. cents and o dead hrad ticket 10 Hornum's
circus. which they found Ia a drawer In the store
and the b0ys had been confined In jail al suminef
half dozen cases were not more serious
learned tina, children were often arrested for
petty offences and sent 20 iall or uncd or both and
when the nno unpaid lt had TO 6c worked out In
al: that parents abandoned thelr children through
Ignorance or fear As soon a., tAey Wcrc arrested.
when the least cndraVor on thCr part mlgi; have
saved the child from going 20 jail or the reform
school, and sometimes parcnis were glad 70 get rd
OF their children In this way, Truanis were treated
IS n they were criminals. and children were cftcn
locked up In the same cells with tho most deprBvcd
offenders looked mp the general statutes and
found but few ennctmcnts for the protection of
children, while there were pages Of enactWcnis
relating "a dogs
Accordingly. drew up \ memorial N the court.
signed by All the Grand jury. calling attention 20
these conditions and to the great need Of lcgisla-
ton favorable to Juvenile offenders At the sug
ges.lan Of Judge Wilbur the presiding Judge, a
measure entitled An Act Relating 90 Juvenile
Offenders" was prepared. II provided that minors
under the age OF 10 years charged with any crime
or ulsdcmeanor In the counties OF Providence and
Newport Should he tHcd separately at \ session
Of the court called "the Sessions for Juvenile Of
tenders. that OF these sessions separate docket
and record should he kent that the ASeut of the
poard ~ state Charities and Corrections or the
agent NJ tine Rhode island Society for TIE Proven
tion Of Cruelty 10 Children, or the agent OF the
ST Vincent dc Paul Society should BE- present a.
the hrrAiCnmcnt and Trial Of juvenile offenders 20
secure the services OF counsel In their b'half ana
10 learn all that yas possible regarding said children
FOR the purpose OF aiding said court and generally
20 take care or the Interests OF said Children max
no court or oucr fees SHOULD BE- allowed. Tor I'm a
number Of cases great wrong had been done 20 chi
dren charged with some petty offence through The
zra OF the officer 10 secure his tees that such Of
tenders when piaccd under arrest, should be con-
0ncd separate and apart from other than juvenile
offenders. ana mat no children under 10 years OF
age should he sent 20 jail OF state prison under
any circumstances. unIoaS l1r an oHrncr PUNISH
abb ay imprisonment iaf l.c
Tne nu.i lunouart feature. however MAS tAat
u conferred on thc court a!'hortr 10 place The
orcadcf IN the custody OF the agent Of TIC i'oard
az stale Cuahur, ana Corrections, tEc agent OF the
society for the Prevention ot CrIcu go Children.
or o' thv 81. Vincent dc Paul SoclcD
st hrst the measure met wish Opposition from the
polcr departments OF the cities Induced by uis
apnrehcnslon. but when IFS tine intent and appca
ton wcr, made clear lhs opposition was withdrawn
aud In SIS nc bill became law Within forty clght
hours afcrits nrst reading. record seldom cquaei
Tor an act SD momcntous. and # is believed 70 be
broader 10 rs spirit and Application than the inN'-
nile laws subsequently passed by other States
The benefits 20 fhe individual have been so graf
and ihc saving TO The State so considerable That
tne probationary features have since h"en extended
( 20 adults NJ q. HANSON
WV YORK. ian p.