The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-08
JUVENILE COURT rs
MAKER OF CITIZENS
Four Judges Discuss Work. Pointing Out Needs and Sug
costing Improvements Conference Invited
to Meet in Denver Next

Child-savng as cxempifled in the
work OF the Juvenile court was ex-
planned before the Children's Section
OF the national conference In the hall
OF the Mechanics Institute yesterday
morning, emphasis being laid on the
fact that success depends In great
measure upon the character of the
Judge and OF the probation officer.
The right and interest of the state
In the child was stated TO be the un-
derlying principle, while from an
economic point OF view It was held
to be better public policy to reform
children and to build up character md
citizenship than to support reforma-
tories and penal institutions. In the
matter of the operation Of the court.
no striking or new principle was laid
down az regards the dependent child
the child for whom the State or church
or private individual must care by
orphan asylum, institution or the
placing-out system.
Care Of the Child.
IL is in the care of the delinquent
child, who has broken some law or who
Is carly developing criminal tendencies.
mat the more important functions OF
the juvenile court are exercised
through its system OF probation and
fatheriy care That the work of such
court Is By no means limited to chill
dren of the poorer classes was the
testimony of several speakers. One
OF the busiest Of the courts was re-
ported from cultured suburb of Chi
cago, where there is no slum district.
The delinquent tendencies among
certain children seem TO overstep
tn, bounds Of blood and environment
and caste. Bad health, poor eyesight
and lack of proper physical attention
were held to be the primary causes for
later for much OF the inclination to
commit crime.
Four Judges There.
Four Judges of children's courts took
part in the discussion, while eighteen
probation officers We're in the large au-
ly of the Juvenile Court OF Chicago.
made the principal address. In order
TO interest the people OF Virginia and
delegates from other states where the
dueed, Judge Mack discussed his sub
Ject broadly and generally. without
dealing in the minute technicallties in
ierestins only TO the expert. he
claimed there was nothing funda-
mentally new In the idea OF state care
OF It's future citizens. In the case OF
dependent or orphan children. the juye-
nile court merely exercises powers now
in the hands of other courts, determin-
Ing where the orphan or neglected child
shall go and into whose hands he shall
be placed. The speaker declared:
Although we all recognize the value
OF the orphan asylum, they do not
spell the last word in child care; they
child deserves a home. where it can
receive its proper and natural devel-
opment and 1t is the business of the
children's court to find real homes in
stitutiona. Although some children
are better off in an asylum. for the
average normal child there should be
a home. After child is placed either
In home or in an institution, 1t Is
the duty of the court TO see that 1t
has careful supervision.
But the distinctive note of the
juvenile court is in its treatment of
the delinquent not necessarily an
orphan or public charge or even
criminal tendencies Under our usual
system when child has reached the
age of responsibility, varying from
seven TO twelve years. and has broken
some. law. the dignity of the State
has demanded vindication. The child
was arrested, herded with other GRIM
inals in. station houses and jails, the
only question given to the option of
the Jury being its innocence or guilt.
A fine or imprisonment followed. with
Vastly more important was the effect
on the child, the treatment usually re-
sulting not in reformation. but in
permanent criminal career. The
State was doing all 1t could to educate
and train criminals. Now we are
these children in decent citizenship.
Not the First Step.
The juvenile court was not the first
step taken to mold citizens out of
youthful offenders. Reformatories for
their restraint where they might re-
ceive thorough industrial education
We're long step in this direction. In
order to know what has brought about
the conditions we must get away from