The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-19

just cause anu WllQOuL+ IA& HaCOnS6uC sOl
Its parents OF guardian, absents itself from
Its home or place Of abode; or who Is growing
up in idleness; or who wanders about the
street in the night time, without being In any
lawful business SOr occupation may be ad-
judged delinquent child. - This Is broaden
ing the general definition of delinquency, and
is for the purpose Of preventing crime, instead
Z of postponing action until the child has actual
Ely become a criminal. 1T Is not q very, long
step from hahitual idleness to crime. But
before idleness and Incidence become fixed hab.
its,9f there is an opportunity for sy mpathetic
counsel and helpful admonitton.
What It Provides.
The juvenile law provides that a delinquent
child may be committed to the care or custody
Of a probation officer, who may allow said
child to be kept IN It's home. subject to the tn
child may be taken to the court for further
proceedings when such action appears neces-
sary. Or the delinquent child may be placed
in suitable family home, subject to the
friendly supervision Of the probation officer and
the further order of the court.
Again, the court may order the delinquent
child to be boarded out in some suitable family
home in case persons can be found who Will pay
for its board until the child can be placed in a
home without; any expense for Its board, cloth
ing and education.
The court may also commit such child to the
state training school, or to any institution In
| corporated under the laws Of Minnesota that may
care for delinquent children; or to any institu-
ton which may be provided for such children
by cities or counties suitable to the care Of
such children; or to such state institution as
may be hereafter established for the care Of
| such delinquents. ..# @s =
While there seems to be a pretty large field
to choose from, in this enumeration, the facts
that the judge of the Juvenile court is either
compelled, under existing conditions to place
the child on probation and leave him in his
home. Or send him to the state training school.
Suitable families are not hunting for delin-
quent children. ~ .-.t
Probation.
The Minnesota law provides that the Juvenile
court may appoint lone or more discreet persons
Of good character to serve as probation officers
during the pleasure Of the court. The court, in
! Hennepn county, has six probation officers two
men and four women. To maze a good proba-
tion officer requires much more than to be a
| "discrete person of good character 4 good
probation officer must have sympathy with boys
and girls. high ideals of life, vigorous health
and infinite tact. Three of probation officers
are paid by the county, one by the Unity House,
a social settlement, a splendid institution sup
ported by the Church of the Redeemer, and two
are paid by the Juvenile Protective league.
The object of placing children on probation is
to give them an opportunity for improvement
and the probation officer chance to help them
in their homes as we'll as to test the sincerity
Of the children In promising a reformation In
their conduct. Much greater results might be
had a larger number of probation officers to
whom children might report. We had, on the
first of this month, 143 boys and IA girls on
probation; and the greater part Of them are
required to report, every one two. or more
weeks. at the courthouse, and to one person.
Under such circumstances, the reporting Of
delinquent children and the inquiries made by
the probation officer as to their improvement,
the danger is that the work will be done in a
perfunctory manner. The number of probation
officers should be large enough SO that they
could visit these various children in their homes
so they could the better advise them and render
them assistance. Children on probation who are
attending school are required to produce, for the
inspection Of the probation officer, the report
card which they receive from, the principal Of
the public schools.