The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-21
JUVENILE COURTS.

Juvenile court In tho United States.
and an emissary Of the King OF Sweden.
who was sent to this country to OBJ
serve our mode Of helping the bad boys
and girls to mend their ways. reported
to his sovereign that the indianapolis
court showed the best results of all
institutions he had examined.
The Marion county Juvenile court
was established in March. 1908, with
Judge George w. Stubs on the bench.
The machinery of tho court is simple.
In :. case OF a delinquent, an officer
aton as possible. Tor slight trans
erosion the child is left at home, and
the parents made responsible for the
appearance at court. II the case is OF
la serious turn tile culprit is given an
opportunity for meditative repentance
at the detention home. The law pro-
vides that no child under the age OF
fourteen years shall be placed in any
Jail or police station or lookup. pend
ing trial. but II such child Is unable to
give bail 1t may be placed In the care
oK the sheriff. police matron, or proba-
ton officer, who shall keep such child
In some suitable place provided by the
county.
Every complaint against a boy under
sixteen years or against girl under
seventeen years for MI ofrense> not pun
ishable by law with imprisonment for
life. or for which the penalty Is death
must be transferred to the Juvenile
court. The juvenile court has the rec.
ognized prestige of court of original
jurisdiction. 1t works comparatively
free handed. it disposes of cases logi.
caliy from beginning to end. Petty
Ineighborhood quarrels heretofore spread
before gaping curiosity in police courts
are ended where they should be and
no child's name is erringly written de
|linquent" on public record.
Complaint, made to the court. starts
the investigation. That Is, tho juve-
nile court law provides for the employ
ment of two paid probation officers
who are compensated by the county;
and the board OF public safety OF the
city or indianapolis details two of its
best adapted patrolmen to the work
OF the court. These last are. OF courss.
paid by the city. To these four people
two women and two men--is given
the task of investigating whatever
facts will throw light on the crime.
Tho judge has broad powers. but he
exercises then, judiciously, and man
| ages to gain the confidence Of all de-
authority to deal with delinquent par
ents and guardians as we'll as with de-
linquent children, and the law provides
that when any child is found to be
NEGLECTED, the person or persons re-
,sponsible for its care are deemed guilty
Of misdemeanor and fined not exceedin &
$500, to which may be added impr!son-
ment not exceeding six months. In
all such cases there is the right OF APP
lpeal. but 1t Is rarely exercised.
This brings the defective parents be-
fore the court, where they are properly
disciplined by the Judge. The court is
also aided by volunteer officers who
visit the homes OF defective parents
and giye them frlendlxSnid in manag
ling their children. In q syirginia city
this would be regarded as intolerablc
meddlins, but the plan seems to operate
well in indianapolis. In connection
with this service is an employment blu.
reau which has been very successful III
obtaining work for delinquent boys anc
girls, especially for those who arc
graduated from the reformatories.
One Of the most valuable adjuncts IL
the, court Is the clinic. Physical exam,
nation Is just as much a. part OF til.
program as the court examination by
judge Stubbs. Ono morning is setapar
for the boys and one for the girls. Tht
same doctors arc regularly An charge O
the examination on each Of the days, 81
there is uniformity Of procedure an,
continuity OF Observable
{. Measuring and weighing to d!scove
lundersizc. test OF hearing. tho luug
Iand the eyes. examination OF the throa,
and nose inquiry as to diet. exercis,
land sleep--all these data are recorded
Tho recommendations are made is thu
.|child. the parent. or to the attending
trained nuyse, who sees to 1t that thu
child goes to the dispensary or hospita
as urgency demands.
! These FACTS are cleaned from an arti
Gle in the Boston Transcript by r.. NJ
Baxter. who says that this work pre-
5 vents more misunderstanding and un
r |merited chastlsement than any othe
; branch OF the court. rruancy cure
: lby deft touch OF the knife; aisobedi
lenee explained by unsupported deaf
\ mess; irritabil!ty and nngoycrnabl
\ temper attributed TO catarrhal growtl,f
Y and uninher!ted disposition to stes
lYoo irrin