St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-06-13

June 13, 1908.
JUVENILE COURTS.

JUVENILE COURTS.
The following letter from President Knobloch
OF the Press Association will be read with inter
est by those who have been watching develop
ments in latter-day social reforms, and whose
sympathies are with all laws reformatory in
Their nature rather than simply penal:
Editor St. Tammany Farmer:
Dear Sir-My attention has been directed to a
measure now before the Legislature to estab-
hsn Juvenile Courts throughout the State.
nave carefully examined the bill and feel
that it is entirely worthy Of endorsement by the
press OF the State. The underlying principle is
cnlld saving The stupidity of furnishing chill
dren as we punish adults has received nation
VIDE consideration And the more reasonable,
the more humane, and surely the more effective
method OF probation and indeterminate SEN
tence, making as it does for the reformation of
the delinquent child, has already been adopted
IN some twenty two States.
Inc bill provides for separate sessions as Ju-
VenlIe courts, OF the District Courts in the par
S snes, and separate and distinct court for New
Orleans.
Naturally there is greatest need for such a
court IN thlckly settled areas, and the necessity
OF court IN Orleans is, to my mind absolutely
beyond dispute. In a City like New Orleans,
with It's cosmopolitan people, the saving in citi-
presided over by judge who shall be permitted
10 make his work a life study, is hardly per-
ceptlble of computation.
can think of no argument against the estab-
llshment of such court in New Orleans, unless
1t be on the ground of economy in the admins
tratlon OF justice; but even that must give way
before the modest provisions of the bill, while
lnformotlon at hand with regard to the work of
such courts in other States leads me to believe
that the Court could in time be made self-sus-
tanning.
I have gone to some length in bringing this
matter to your notice because have always felt
that our organization should undertake work OF
this character, and believe that the cooperation
OF the press will largely assist the promoters OF
this worthy measure.
Fraternally
FRANCIS L. KNOBLOCH.
President of the Louisiana Press Association
The arrest and incarceration of minors otter
leads to life of crime especially in those mos
susceptible to good influences. The more sen
sitive the mind the easier it is influenced fol
good or bad, and the degradation of being thrus
in a cell among criminals is an Overwhelming
disgrace that kills the self-esteem and pride upol
which depends the formation of an upright char
acter and useful citizen.
This analogy applies also in many cases Q
IllSu6H6dLOF dIlQ IElNldl IllLIdCGlOI VI laws "
mature people, and such cases should be SO han
died as to work as little injury to society as pos
sible The great difficulty in showing lenienc
to violators of the law is in the cry that goes u
for an impartial administration Of justice to a
classes, and the opportunity it offers for judcis
protection under the plea Of reformatory poss
bilities. But Notwithstanding this a decrease
the number of arrests and the commission c
crime has followed the adoption of this prime
pie in Detroit, Mich. and at meeting of tn
Chiefs of Police in that city it was shown thu
the discretionary power exercised by police off
GERS in making arrests for drunkenness an
minor offenses had worked benefcially.
The Juvenile Court is no longer in the exper
mental stage, but has been found fruitful {
good results in all States in which it has bee
adopted especially in the Western States i
object should appeal to all, and the principle Il
ducing it's establishment has for its argume1
faith in the inherent manliness of the youth {
America An appeal to the senses of sef-respec
honor and right is much more forceful to tt
average youth than the fear of punishment, ar
the influence of the home circle is preferable
the walls of prison cell and its degrading e
fects. We believe in the Juvenile Court ar
hope to see it established in this State.
-NIIIpITION