The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-03
JUVENILE COURT DIFFICULTIES.


II is extremely unfortunate that the
legislation passed at the recent session
, Of tho Legislature with respect 10 the
f, Juvenile Court should be in such a mud
de as the closer examination finds 1T to
he.
First, the law says that the Juvenile
Court is State court. but does not pro-
vide for the election Of Judge Che
is appointed by State Commission) nor
any proper way for the payment of tho
necessary expenditure Of providing pro-
bation officers; the State is not required
TO pay. II docs not provide any prhc-
! teal way for the establishment and
maintenance of detention homes.
Tho law appears TO be yiolative of
the Constitution in several respects
First, il creates discrepancy between
the establishment of the court and the
authority which will pay for portion
of the necessary assistants and expenses
Of that court. In it's essential features,
tho provisions of the law arc conhsca-
tory of the public money of Salt Lake.
ccr. That one probation officer is ut
tcrly inadequate TO meet the needs of
the Juvenile Court in this whole county
and city, is evident without n
plea. If further probation officers are
provided, these officers would necessa-
rily have to he provided by the city, and
be under the pay and the jurisdiction
of the city And yet the city has no
jurisdiction over the court. either in
finance or procedure, by ordinance or
appropriation. The court is entirely
independent of the city in its juris-
diction, but largely dependent upon it
for the efficiency of its work This is
situation which docs not commend
itself TO either law. fair administration,
or common sense. In order 10 have the
work that is necessary, done, it would
seem as If the city VIII have TO provide
two or more probation officers, but the
court would be under no obligation to
recognize these officers. They would
not be under the authority of the court,
because the Council i'll creating the Of
fees and making appropriation for them
would necessarily have to define their
duties, and those duties. since the coun-
Gil has no jurisdiction over the court,
could not i'll any way be made by the
Council to connect with that court.
In the matter of the detention home,
it is even worse. The county is given
jurisdiction, and yet tho city is ap,
parently expected to pay practically all
of the cost of running it. The city,
however, cannot pay unless the Council
nppropriates the money. But should the
Council appropriate city money TO the
maintenance of p county institution?
Is the Council justified in taking the
money of the city taxpayers and apply
ing it to the county purposes and put
ting il at the disposal of the County
Commissioners If any such duty as
this can be imposed upon the city, then
there would appear TO be no reason why
the county or the State cannot take
possession of the city property wher-
ever found and loot tho city treasury
at the pleasure Of each or either.
In tho legislation referred TO there
appear TO be three factors, in which
two are gwen jurisdiction and one is
expected to supply pretty much all the
money to maintain that jurisdiction
First, the State establishes the court
and maintains jurisdiction and control
over il. But the city is expected to pay
the cost, or at least so much of it that
the court is helpless without the city's
money. Again, the county is given iur-
isdiction over the detention home which
the State has ordered established, but
does not support; and the county is not
expected TO support this detention
home, either. The city, here, also, is ex.
pected to put up the money the same as
in the case of the other branch OF es.
sential aid for the court itself. The sit
uatIon is certainly an anomalous one.
and needs judicial Interpretation and
elucidation. If the problems are not so
formidable as they seem at first blush
to be. we should be glad TO see them
solved III some satisfactory manner, but
as they present themselves now. it does
not seem possible for them TO appear
logical, lawful, or eflectual under the
LEGISLATION referred to. If it is true
tnat the State has no jurisdiction to
seize and eonfscate city property, eth
er money or otherwise, il would follow
that the State, not having the power
10 do so directly, cannot do so Indirect.
!y through the county.
We should be glad to sec the Juvenile
Court work proceed; but how is ii go.