The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-02
(By Rev. Vim. DeLoss Love, Ph. D President of the Connecticut
 Humane Society.

Humane Society.
 Delivered at Conn., Conference of
 Charities and Correction.)
 John Smith fifteen years of age. is
 brought before the judge of a certain
 Juvenile Court. What offense has he committed; and what IS the Court go-
 ing to do about it
 If the boy has a good home and IS charged merely with some boyish mis-
 chief, he is not properly there. The offense should be reported to his par
 ents, for it is too trivial for court treatment and it is not the purpose of such a. court to relieve parents of their responsibilities. The probation system does not invite the unnecessary arrest of youth. who might be stigma tized by such procedure
 John is charged. however, with petit larceny and that is serious. If not corrected, he ay be started in a criminal life. Very likely he has had bad companions, or has an unfit home be one who is able to see-that crit teal time in Johns life has arrived His destiny may be determined by his treatment By it he may be saved to good citizenship, and the State has placed the judge at the crossroads to show the way In doing so, if it were necessary, the State could easily figure out the conclusion that it is public economy to put into Johns treatment all the money necessary to save him; rather than risk the alternative; and the JuNe1I19 AOUEl NlO0S save ch AeoA SO percentage of his kind
 The principle is fundamental in deal ing with this boy that he is not re garded by tine State as a criminal. He would have been formerly, and his punish ment would have been meted out as to an adult. Now, he is con sidered as a delinquent, whose evil tendencies are to be corrected. There fore care has been exercised since his detection that he be not treated as criminal. or associated with such. For these and other reasons, he may have been brought to the court from detention home. and his case is heard in a separate court building. or at least in chambers.
 of the Juvenile Court judge are an i'm portant factor in treating Johns case is evident. It may not require 3. pro found knowledge of law, but 1t de mands acquaintance with human na- ture, which is largely a natural gift. Inferior court judges are too often made and unnade for political reasons. Thus the success Of juvenile probation is affected. As the system involves moral guardianship, the judge should have a high ethical standard, a strong faith in such measures, some acquaint- ance. with degenerate life, knowledge of the philanthropy that seeks it's ele- vation a personal interest in the in 6ividual offender. and genuine sympa- thy with youth. Probation officers will be influenced for good in their work by a worthy juvenile judge. ' also the qualifications necessary for a probation officer. and he who does Is the exception. On the whole, it seems to me best that the spheres of judge and probation officer should be kept distinct even in the public mind. The judge represents the authority of law He is not conducting a mission enter prise, but is the master in school of moral delinquency. While he should be kind. the dignity and seri- ousness of his court procedure. his ad- T1e-ti ground upon which the offender can most clearly see and honestly ap- preciate the friendly services of his advOcate.-the probation officer. ESueh conduct is certainly best for the par ents and they should be deeply con cerned, if they are to become help full factor in reform.
 Now in John Smiths case there has been careful preliminary investigation. ! The neglect of this involves a com- mon abuse of the probation system, in crude attempts at it's ap- 1 plication The statutes Of thls state require such investigation. Another agency may make it. but. in my opin- ion, the conditions should be exam 1 ined and the facts verified by the pro- | bation officer. Failure here may re- suit in a suspended sentence for one l 1r vice versa Johns home should be l visited and it's neighborhood known. | His parental influences should be stud l led. so also his school record Is petit |
 
 Is he a very bad boy who has just | been caught? No good is likely to come of a suspended sentence in the | midst of evil associations, or of pa role from an institution when the boy l or girl goes back to a corrupt home. | The preliminary inquiry should be di- | ,ected toward ascertaining whether | John Smith is fit subject for a fur l .her trial and correction. if certain 1 causes of evil are removed. and the judge is entitled to all the facts that | pear upon this decision.
 Thus John is brought before the judge who will be sure to confront linl with such evidence that he will 1 2ot think he is unjustly accused, for he awakening of consciousness of i is the beginning Of a bet er life. If not in due form. he is practically convicted: but the Court .eeming the case one that needs rather moral correction and supervision, places him., for such a term it thinks advisable. under the care of a officer.