The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-18
GIVES STATISTICS
OF POLICE COURT
Judge Feagin Submits Report
TO the Mayor
A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION
JUDGE Feaqin Favors a>Law Restricting
A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION
Judge Feagin Favors a>Law Restricting
the Privilege Exercised BY citi-
zen In Causing Arrest on
Verbal Charge.

Police Judge Feagin submitted the fol-
lowing report to the Mayor last night for
the last six months of the year 1906:
Number of arrests, 1924.
Convicted, 84l5.
Not convicted, 1901.
Probation, 3d.
Forfeitures on bonds not collected, So.
Sent to reformatory, G.
Total cash--fines and fees collected in
1905, SS1. 2S9 49,
All cases on the ni-si docket have been
settled except twenty-five. On these judg-
ments have been obtained, executions
issued and returned (no property found).
Many of the other bonds are insolvent,
and the sureties on some are questiona-
BILE; other bonds have no securities on
them whatever
1t will be seen that out of the 1884 ar
rests there were 34l5 convictions, SO child
rem under IA years of age put on proba-
ton, sent to the reformatory; the So
cases in which forfeitures were taken on
bonds are involved; and the 1901 not con-
vcted include the acquitted, cases mol
pressed for want of prosecution, for mis-
taken identity, and others mol pressed
where the defendants were delivered to
the sheriffs of this state and other Of
ficials of the cities and towns of this
state, and also fugitives from justice from
other states. Such arrests as these last
named swell the number of arrests made
in this city for offenses committed out
side of the city and often out of the state
such arrests will doubtless average over
five hundred year.
Arrests Decreasing.
These statistics show that while the
population of this city is rapidly increas-
ing the number of arrests are gradual
1y decreasing. The arrests for carrying
concealed weapons, for instance, since the
heavy penalties have been imposed for
this offense have decreased from PSF in
1902 to about $50 for the year 1905.
The law permits citizen to be arrested
on the charge of another citizen, without
affidavit and warrant 1t often happens
that such person ordering such arrests
fails to appear and prosecute, and such
cases are mol prosed for the want of pros
ecution. If such prosecutors were re-
qured to give bond for their appearance
at court to make good their charges, the
number of frivilous and malicious prose-
cutions that cumber our dockets would
be greatly reduced.
There is a large number of bonds that
are taken on which the securities are in
solvent. 1t would be advisable to have
some legislation on the part of the Board
of Aldermen, so as to prevent the taking
of so many bonds that are worthless.
Probation Officer.
The chairman of the police commission
and the chief of police agree with me
that it would be well to have a policeman
to take charge of, as a probation officer,
the men who are arrested for falling to
support their families, and see that they
are at work or punished for their offense.
Such probation officer could be of great
service to the city In looking after the
hayward boys and girls who are just be-
ginning criminal life. 1t has been found
that the services of such officers in
France, who look after even first Offend
ers in misdemeanors, the adults as well
as the young, in keeping them out of ques-
tionable escorts and temptations of a city
life, while under a suspended sentence,
have been instrumental in reducing sec
ond offenders from AZ per cent to 5 40
per cent within ten years. This method
has been quite successful in other coun-
tries, and it would be advisable to be-
gin 1t here.
The efforts that have been made by this
court along such lines with the negro ju-
venile criminals have saved the city from
the annoyance of many thieves and law
breakers and many youths from a ques-
tionable career in crime.
Favors Restriction.