Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-08
FOR JUVENILE COURTS
JUDGE LINDSEY OF COLORADO
TALKS OF THEIR INFLUENCE.
Calls on President Roosevelt to Paw His
Respects and Subsequently
Gives Views.

President Roosevelt had a visit today
from Judge Ben. B. Lindsey, judge of the
juvenile court of Colorado. He was accom-
panied by j. Wesley Douglass of the board
of children's guardians, and z. H. Copp.
probation officer of the District. Judge
Lindsey will deliver a lecture tomorrow
night in the Washington public library on
the work of the Juvenile courts in Colorado.
His call upon the President was to thank
the chief executive for his deep interest in
such courts.
Judge Lindsey is d chairman of the ma
tiona1 committee on juvenile and probation
courts of the national conference of chart
ties and corrections
Speaking to a Star reporter at the White
House as to the work of Juvenile courts, he
said: --3f 1'
Saving In Costs.
Governor Peabody has estimated, in his
message to the legislature, that the saving
to the state in court costs and care and
keep of individuals in Institutions has been
over s275.00O in four years. The moral
features of the system are so well devel-
oped that when boy is sent to the re-
form school he buys his8ewn ticket, takes
the train and goes alone, and not one of the
thirty-five committed in the last few years
mas ever Idlle0 tO respect his WORD OF
honor. although some 'of these boys were
declared by the police to be dangerous
criminals and were shackled IN being taken
from. one jail to another. Mt simply shows
what can be done by appealing to loyalty
and the best instincts in an individual, no
matter how depraved he may seem. In
fact, we count no boy bad He may do
bad things. We sly he is the victim of bad
environment and poor opportunity.
THE court is kind, but firm. but it Is the
frnlneSs that commands respect and not
hate Every boy who goes to the institu-
ton is thus the friend of the state instead
of the enemy.
They look on the state as they would
upon kind and firm father. rather than
brutal prosecutor. as is the case of most
boys subjected to jails and penal institu-
tons. OF course, there are some failures,
but where there Is one failure there were
ten under the old criminal law system. The
Juvenile court is the ounce of prevention. 1t
seeks to form character before character. is
deformed. 1t prevents crime before crime
Is committed. Our fault in the past has
been to wait until crime was committed,
and then the only remedy was to punish
and brutaliZe the individual
District Law Before Congress.
"A law permitting this kind of work to be
done in Washington is, stated. before
Congress, and If passed will do more to save
the citizenship of this city, as we'll as the
money of the taxpayer and government, in
one year than all the criminal courts could
do. There ought to be at least three PAID
probation officers for Washington.
The fact is that in nearly all cities one
fourth of all the arrests by the police de-
partment are among the youth-the mere
boys. 1t is the probation ofhcer, and not
the policeman, who must correct the chill
dren, and the greatest economy the state
can practice is to make liberal provisions IN
its expenditures to save children, rather
than punish criminals.
THE President, in his last annual mes
sage to Congress, recommended the passage
of laws similar to those of Colorado Tor the
correction of children There is such Dill
pending before the present Congress, ana
the President feels deep interest in 1t. The
purpose of this proposed law is to hold pa
rents responsible for the faults OF children
where such faults result from neglect In
the home. 1t seeks to aid and assist a
nome that Is not negligent, but because OF
misfortune cannot care for the growing
boy. For instance, a mother who WORKS all
day. with no husband in the family, cannot
well be blamed for the boy that is running
loose In the streets, to eventually become
criminal but where there Is father, and
he is neglectfng his duty, he Is. under the
Colorado law, actually sent to Jail. In this
way legal responsibility for the moral well
fare OF children is placed upon adults not
only parents, but others.
Supplies an Illustration.
This may be Illustrated in this way: A
SAeiASh SchoS a uoy 70 III cFi PtdSos WLCi o
the boy sees men dogevii things. The per-
son who sends the boy upon such mis-
sion and the one who permits the boy to
enter the place, under the, laws of Colorado.
are guilty of crime. This brings about
protection for children. 1t Is simply a ques-
ton of improving the environment and add
ing to opportunity for good
In addition to this the officers of the
juvenile courts in Colorado take an inter-
est In children waywardly disposed, with
the view of aiding, assisting and encourag-
ing them in the rig..t path. Lawless gangs
are converted into powers for good. and
the boys in Denver have done more for
the enforcement of laws for the protection
of children than the police department has
heen able to do in ten years. This is done
by systematic work through the Juvenile
courts by cooperation with the so-called
bad boys themselves The schools Cooper
ate with the courts and take an especial
interest In hayward children.
Commitments of minors to jails and in
situations have decreased from 70 per cent
OF all such offenders brought to court five
years ago to less than per cent under the
Juvenile system The courts not only help
to form the character of the child, but also
The character of the home, where the home
Is careless. The state is saved dollars and
cents, as well as good citizens"