The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-09


boys AID girls with whom We have
come in contact have been benefited.
In many cases we find that parents
are either directly or indirectly respOn-
sible for the delinquency OF their chill
dren. ] suppose this condition is due
20 the fact that the responsibilities Of
parcnthood have never been properly
impressed upon their minds.
We have had children brought into
court who were guilty OF the rankest
kind Of immortality. and alter we have
lenses TO their parents. their only re-
Spouse would be. Il didn't know that
lhat was against the law or else they
would try to manufacture some excuse
that in way would Justify the ac-
tions Of the child.
There are too many parents who take
the old spartan view OF the situation
and think that the offcnse lies not In
the commission OF the act. but in the
being apprehended after the act has
been committed. too many fathers and
mothers are parents because they han
pen 90 be. not because they desire to
be, and there are too many who try
20 shlelo ano protect their chiidren m
w ongdc ing rather than to correct
hem.
Parents Too Indulgent.
Parents. as rule. are too indulgent
with their children. they tolerate dis
obedience in the home. laugh and call
cunning those little hayward tenden-
cies Characteristic to early childhood.
until the child recognizes no restra in z.
As 10 grows up and enters into com
muuitv life. 10 naturally expects to find
things there as ~ did IN it's own home.
And why shouldn't it, u has never
been taught the first lesson Of Obedi-
cnce. every selfish wish or desire has
been gratified until ~ almost has q
right to feel that one who tries to cur
tail its slightest desire is an intruder
children who have not been taught
90 be apprehended as delinquents in
the community. II they are not cor
rected before they pass the juvenile
court age. they will be the first 10
don the stripes at our prison doors.
The very fact that over 1.5OO boys
and girls have been handled by Off
GERS OF the juvenile court IN one year
I'm a city the size OF ours. indicates
that there IS something wrong and
calls aloud for parents TO awaken ana
attend to their duty. our laws are
adequate on this point. but, owing TO
the small appropriation made by the
last legislature for juvenile court pun
poses. we have not been sufficiently
equipped to meet this phase Of the
convinced that the conditions viii re-
main unchanged so long as parents are
allowed to shirl the responsibility Of
their children.
II IS my opinion that II the legis-
lature can be induced 60 appropriate
sufficient sum 20 enable MS 10 take
ditions among the boys and girls VIII
be very much improved. At the pres
emit time we are unable to cope with
the situation.
Probation Officers Duty
There are about $4,000 boys and girls
iu salt Lake county who come under
the Jurisdiction OF the juvenile court
While IL may be contended that the po-
lice department and the sheriffs Of
flee DO much toward preventing the
young people from going wrong, ~ Is
also a fact that those officers feel that
because there Is a juvenile court the
young offenders are no longer under
their Jurisdiction. and 10 is the duty OF
the proba ton officer To look atter
them.
There are az tho present time about
eighty police officers in salt Lake city
90 look after the adult population OF
the city. and between twenty-five and
thirty deputy sheriffs to look after the
adult population OF the county. These
officers AN feel that they arc relieved
Of the responsibility Of looking after
the boys and girls under eighteen
years OF age. because there are SIX pro-
baton officers whose duty u Is TO care
for an such boys and girls In the city
and county. When one realizes that
about oue-third OF our popul allon
comes under the Jurisdiction OF the Ju-
vcnile court the Inconsistency OF the
conditions becomes very apparent
Police officers are by no means pro-
baton officers. Their duties are as
different as the night is from the day.
When the police officer appreheuds his
man and ge.s him safely locked behind
the bars. his task is done. But not so
with the probation officer. He finds his
boy and realizing there is cause FOR
every delinQuency. he immediately
starts iu pursuit OF the cause. When
that is found. his task begins IL Is his
duty to- remove the cause. n possible.
and from then on pilot the youngster
until ne becomes good citizen OF the
state.
Three Departments.
Juvenile court work naturally divides
itself into three separate and distinct
deDa rtmeuts. each department having
its own peculiar duties to perform.
They are.
Ftrst-The apprehendinE department.
-rrnnd-Tnn InNcsfi- ting or scErc-