The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-28
PROBATION PLAN
FOR ERR|NG BOYS
Judge w. II. De Lacy Pleads for
Establishment of Juvenile
Courts.
--
FAMILY UNIT OF THE STATE
Says That Safeguarding Of the
Home Would Lead to Better
Succeeding Generations
FAMILY UNIT OF THE STATE

With the central argument that the
family is and must always be the unit
in civilization. and that from 1t only
can radiate the best and highest In
fluences that will go to make UP the
succeeding and all other generations,
Judge w. II. De Lacy, Of the Juvenile
Court. of Washington. spoke last night
to rather a small but apparently
very appreciative audience In the han
OF the House of Delegates on his LIES
work among boys.
Judge De Lacy who is 81 disciple
and follower of Judge Ben Lindsay OF
Colorado fame, referred to the great
| work that has already been accom-
plished by the Juvenile Court and It's
system of probation for youthful Of
| lenders, and referred to 1t as the only
agency by which erring childhood
could be brought into the paths OF rec
titude and made into an estate from
which future righteous and upright
| citizens could be developed and made
| a credit to the community in which
they lived. His address was dispas-
sionate but earnest. He INDUCED in
no fights of oratory and did not plead
TO the emotions. He presented his
J case logically and in convincing terms.
\ as need rather than field for fad
dists.
Mayor COmncnds Work.
II The speaker was introduced by May.
or D. C. Richardson, who said: The
most important duty is that which
consists In sitting in Judgment on
our fellow man. That is most inn
portant duty which imposes punish
ment. even unto life and death. The
object of all punitive laws Is to reform
the offender and to deter others from
the commission of crime. But every
punishment inflicted in the way of ven-
geance is n tyrannous exercise of power
and falls of It's purpose. Laws are
made SO that equal Justice may be
administered to all but am well
aware that exact justice does not obs
tain. We can hope to obtain the high
est justice only by applying that JUS
tce which will suit the case. We
must take into consideration environ
ment and temperament. We cannot
measure justice in every case by the
same yardstick. Preventive methods
are better than curatice methods, es-
pecially in crminology. To prevent
we must go before the boy and girl
not only to obstruct. but to lead them
on. and for this work Judge is born
not made. He must be n man of in.
telligence. of sympathy. resourceful anc
having knowledge of human nature
The basic idea of our country sale
Judge De Lacy, lis the interest of al
in each. of each in all, and the juve
nile court Is its most recent expires
sion. There are thirty five cities which
have juvenile courts, and Chicago lead
them az All procedure In juvenil
courts 'he system of the CHANGER
Court correction rather than punish
ment Is the underlying motive"
Juvenile Cases Explained.
He explained the different juvenil
cases which come into court. and salt
,, that children should not be committed
to charitable asylunfs unless they wer
found to be actually dependent, as l
j, would lead to form of socialism
Then he described the various con
ditions of badness among children
. that which is due to environment an
temperament, that which Is due t
chance. and that which is due t,
J, heredity. and then went Into hi
!. method of treating them.
. ION our system" he said, "childre
are made to report to me four time
:, week. and probation officers go int
their homes every afternoon. TIL
:, children OF laborers report every Sun
: day afternoon. The effort OF the pro
D baton officers IS to make up tn
: deficiencies OF the home. There ar
= children who seem to be born wit
criminal tendencies Heredity Is a
i important but not controlling factor
Ii can be overcome to a large extern
and the best method is the proba
l. tionary system. by which children ca
, be left at home to be reared by tnei
l. own progenitors. where they may b
examined BY probation officers.
IF there is much relnissness in tn
home government. the deficiencies ar
= made up by the probation officer
= Sometimes conditions In the home lea