Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-20
PLAN FOR PROBATION
Proposed Bill Follows SuggeS-
ton by Commission.
PROVISIONS OF MEASURE
Creates Chief Probation Officer and
Assistants.
POWER VESTED IN THE COURTS
Records of Old Cases to Be Open to
Inspection-Matter of
Expenses.
PROVISIONS OF MEASURE
POWER VESTED IN THE COURTS

Inc proposed Dill the
of a probation system for the District of
Columbia, recommended by the recent
commission appointed by the President to
investigate Jail and workhouse conditions.
follows:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled;
Section l. That the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia in general term
may appoint one chief probation officer
at salary of 81 500 per annum. and as
many unsalaried assistant probati ton Off
GERS occasion may require, and that
the Police Court of the District of Co
lumbia may appoint one chief probation
officer at salary of $500 per annum,
and one assistant probation Officer at a
salary of $500 per annum. and as many
unsalaried assistant probation officers as
occasion may require.
Power Vested in Courts.
Section . That said Supreme Court
and said Police Court shall have power in
any case. except those involving treason
murder. rape arson or kidnapping. after
conviction, or plea of guilty, of felony
or misdemeanor. and the imposition of a
sentence thereon, whether a fine or i'm
prsonment. or both, to place the defend
ant upon probation. provided that it shall
appear to the satisfaction of the court
that the ends of justice and the best in
terests of the public. well as of the
defendant, will be subserved thereby; and
may suspend the execution of the sentence
for such time and upon such terms as it
may deem best, and place the defendant
in charge of a probation officer. The pro-
bationer shall observe all rules prescribed
for his conduct by the court, and report
to the probation officer directed. He
shall be furnished by the clerk of the
court with a written statement of the
terms and conditions of his probation at
the time when he is placed thereon.
Section 3. The probation officers shall
carefully investigate all cases referred to
them by the court, and make recommends
tions to the court to enable it to decide
whether the defendant ought to be placed
under probation, and shall report to the
court from time to time as may be re-
quired by it touching all cases in their
care, to the end that the court may be at
all times fully informed of the circum-
stances and conduct of probationers, but
no person shall be put on probation eX-
cept with his own consent
Reports by Probation Officers.
Section A. That upon the expiration Of
the term fixed for such probation the
probation officers shall report that fact to
the court with a statement of the con-
duct of the defendant while on probation,
and the court may thereupon discharge
the probationer from further supervision,
or may extend the probation, shall
seem advisable. AT any time during the
probationary term the court may revoke
and terminate such probation, modify
ha for fhprpnf nj m
terminate the period of probation and dis
charge the probatiOner from serving out
the unexpired sentence, when in the opin-
ion of the court the ends of justice shall
SO require.
IF the order of probation shall be re-
voked and terminated prior to the expira-
ton of the term thereof, the court shall
cause the reassert of the probationer and
require him to serve the sentence orig
inally imposed, and the time of probation
shall not be taken into account to dimin-
ish the time for which he was originally
sentenced, but he shall serve the full sem
tence not heretofore served, without TAX
ing into account the time when he was
out on probation
Records Open to Inspection.
Section ). Said probation officers shall
keep records of all cases in their care,
which shall at all times be open to inspec-
ton by the court. and shall be subject to
discharge by the court appointing them at
the pleasure of the court.
Section 6. The chief probation officer of
each court shall be entitled for himself
and his assistants, to room in the build
ing occupied by that court and all neces-
sary stationery and supplies for the trans
action of the business of his office, and all
the probation officers shall be entitled to
their necessary expenses in performing
the duties of their office. under the direc-
| ton of the court, the amount of the
expenses for such stationery, supplies
and expenses to be fixed and allowed
by the court upon proper vouchers sub
mitted to it by the probation officers. and
accounts duly verified by their oath and
| for the purpose of this act there is hereby
appropriated out of any moneys in the
Treasury. not otherwise appropriated. the
sum of 81, 600