The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-06-04
JUVENILE COURT
ENTAILS EXPENSE
Detention Home and Probation
Officers Required.
Judge Lightfoot May Undertake ID
Evade Some Of the Provisions
Of the Law.
NOT NECESSARY IN PADUCAH

Extra expense without resulting
benefits may cause some discomfort
with the juvenile court. and unless
the act is Carbohydrates coun-
ty may not have juvenile court
In name. The act originally was In
tended for Louisville. where from
100 to $50 juvenile offenders are ar
rested every month, but McCracken
county with not that many in a half
dozen years is made by the provi-
sions of the law actually to assume
heavier burden of expense. The law
provides for two probation officers. at
salaries of $1,000 and 5000 annually
and receiving home under the care
OF a superintendent and matron at
salaries or $1,000 annually. Children
under IA years Of age can not be
placed in a jail, under penalty Of
800 fine for the officer violating the
act. Consequently the detention hons
will necd bars Cor the safe guarding
of some of the youthful offenders.
The law applies to neglected, de-
linquent and dependent male chill
dren under II years of age and fe-
male children under eighteen years
of age. Jurisdiction of their cases. ex-
cept for felonies, is taken away from
| m pictr atac and x.asfad In tbo c,..rtv
judge exclusively. He is given almost
absolute discretion in the matter Of
the disposition OF these little ones.
Judge Lightfoot and Judge San
ders agree on the subject; that In
this city and county children are Civ.
en- as much consideration In the po-
lice court and county court now as
they can ever receive In juvenile
court. Neither tribunal Is so rushed
but that the merits of each case can
be gone into, and judgment passed
for the good of the defendant. In
Louisville II Is different. There the
police court is so rushed that each
case depends entirely on the usual
legal evidence. and judgment is rem
dered according to the surface merits
of the case rather than the needs OF
the individual involved.
For this reason Judge Lightfoot
said he will look carefully into the
law and dispense with whatever ex-
pense he can. Probably there will be
no probation officer appointed. The
penalty for placing child In jail
may compel the establishment OF
a home for juvenile offenders, un-
less arrangements can be made for
the chlld's detention in some less ex-
pensive manner. There would not be
more than two or three inmates of
that $1,000 Institution in a year.
One of the best provisions OF the
law is the constitution Of visitation
committee composed OF not less than
six nor more than ten citizens Of Ell
Their sex. who serve without salary
and visit institutions wherein chill
dren coming within juristition OF
the court are kept and report on
their condition and the progress of
the children. This will serve to in
terest some predetermined citizens in
matters of reform and prove bless
ng to the community in that way.
The Law.
Some of the provisions of the law
are:
This act shall apply only to male
children II years of age or under.
and to female children IS years OF
age or under, who are not inmates OF
state institution or Institutions in-
corporated under the laws Of the
state of Kentucky for the care and
correction of children. or OF any ro-
form school for juvenile offenders.
The words delinquent child" shall
include any male child II years OF
age. or under. and any female child
Is years of age or under. who vio-
lates any law of this state; or who IL
incorrigible; or who knowingly as
sociates with thieves, vicious or i'm
moral persons; or who. without just
cause and without the consent Of its
parents or custodian, absents itssB
from home or place of abode; or who
is growing up in ldleness or crimes
or who knowingly visits or enters q
house OF ill-repute; or who knowinR<
ly patronlzes or visits any policy she
or place where any gaming device ~
or shall be operated; or who patron
ICES or visits any saloon or dram
shop where intoxicating liquors are
sold: or who patronizes or visits any
public pool room Or bucket shop; or
1 Do