Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-12
Council Bluffs
PROBATION OFFICER NEEDED
Council Bluffs Citizen Discusses Con.
ditions in that City.
CURFEw LAW IS DEAD LETTER
Suggestion that Jobs of Probation
officer and Attendant officer
in ubIi schools BE
Combined.

1T would be a mighty good thing for
Council Bluffs II this city had an officer
like Mogy Bernstein, the Omaha probation
officer" said a we'll known citizen yester-
day. What this city needs is an active
probation officer Of the Juvenile court, a
man who is conversant with conditions as
they exist. Since the advent of the many
moving picture theaters on Broadway,
which attract the young folk at night, the
need of a Jealous officer of the juvenile
court was never more apparent. l believe
It would be a wise plan to consolidate the
offices Of attendance officer of the city
schools and that of probation officer Of
the juvenile court. The former Is posted
as TO the children who fail to attend school
and the nature Of his duties makes him
oonversant with those conditions which
are mainly responsible for delinquency in
the youth Of this city. Any person walk
ing along Broadway any night in the week
can see numbers of small children at all
hours, unattended by their parents or in
charge Of proper grown up persons"
In expressing this opinion the speaker
said he did not desire to be understood as
Understanding the services of Rev. Henry
DeLong, who, since the juvenile division
Of the district court was established has
acted as probation officer. At the same
time, 1t is we'll known that Rev. Mr.. De-
Long, instead of being on the streets Of
the city looking after the children, spends
the greater part of his time in his office
in the county court house waiting to be
called upon to perform marriage cere-
monies. That this is the case is borne
out by the records OF the office of the
clerk OF the district court.
Under a new law enacted by the recent
general assembly the superior court In
Council Bluffs, as in other cities in Iowa
where superior court still exist, has the
same Jurisdiction as the district court in
Juvenile cases. Heretofore all youthful Of
tenders have been dealt with by the dis
trict court. but under the new law the
superior court, because of its connection
with the police department Of the city and
the fact that the police are more usually
called on in cases of juvenile offenses, Will,
It is anticipated, attend to the greater
part Of this work.
Those who have given the matter con-
sideration are OF the opinion that the pro-
baton officer of the Juvenile court should
be a comparatively young and active man
and one who could devote his entire time
to the duties Of the office. BY merging
the offices Of school, truant officer and
the probation officer OF the Juvenile court
adequate compensation could be yaid such
an officer.
Since the curfew ordinances became a
dead letter in this city children in droves
can be seen on the streets late at night
and in some of the moving picture theatert
they form the greater part of the night
audiences. While there has been no COM
plaint of the character of the pictures
shown at these places, It has been said
that some Of the so called vaudeville turns
are not calculated to improve the morale
of the youths who witness them.
Under the new law the probation Of
ftcer appointed by the district court also
acts as the probation officer of the superior
court where such superior court is located
at the county seat. This being the case
the question has arisen whittier Rev, Henry
DeLong will not be required to move hi
headquarters from the county court hous'
to the city hall where the sessions Of thu
superior court are held.