El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-05

the criminal law did not differentiate
between the adult and the minor who
had reached the age Of criminal re-
sponsibiHty at common law in
some states and 10 in others, with a pos
Sible chance of escape up 70 Il II the
, child We're lacking in mentality The
whole idea OF the old method was 10
punish WrOngdoing- The child WAS ar
rested, clapped into Jail, indicted oy
grand jury, tried BY a petit jury, and If
found guilty. sentenced 20 prison with
adult offenders from whom advanced les
sons in crime were easily learned, if Tie
boy happened 10 De ready to learn. as
most boys are.
Since the first court was established
in Chicago in 1899 about so percent OF
the boys put on probation in that city
have not returned TO the court OF the
delinquent girls only 80 percent nave
not shown up again in court. a pretty
plain evidence that the social agencies
of the cities are not filling the girls
wants But taking the situation rs
whole the evidence is strong, not only
in Chicago. but in every city where ju-
venile court legislation has been in
troGUced, that neglected dependent and
delinquent children are better and more
nationally cared for under the new
method
The Proceeding.
Just what sort of procedure is il that
the youngster goes through in a modern
Juvenile court? Take the case Of a tru-
ant, whose hard working mother has
lost hold on her boy who has been run
ming wild for weeks and finally Is
brought to the Juvenile court by a tru-
ant officer. The judge sends the boy
10 the detention home, where he is
kept until the time for the hear
ing. In this home preferably apart
from the court house or jail, the boy is
put at some congenial work with oppOr-
tunity for some recreation, or perhaps
sent TO school. if the detention home is
run on the right principles. IN Chi
cago's detention home not only are
school faculties provided. but voca-
tional training is also given, all of
which raises the question of the extent
TO which vocational training in the pub
lie schools would prevent delinquency.
In Chicago the average period OF de-
tention is six days, in Cleveland five
days and less in other cities In New
York all children taken into custody
within the boroughs of Manhattan and
Bronx are held in the building of the
Society for Prevention of Cruelty 10
Children for periods varying from a day
10 several months before they are
brought 10 the chiIdren's court And not
withstanding this large period Of de-
tention no real effort is made to pro-
vide rational occupation for the leisure
time. Pittsburg has the distinction OF
holding its children in the county jail
where they are fed on jail fare served
by TRUSTEES.
Child Study Department
In connection with the court the
clinic or child study department has
justified itself Here the boy or girl is
given a medical examination, for expert
ence has shown that juvenile delin-
quency and physical defect are closely
tied, except in unusual cases, to GER
tain measurements and weight that may
throw light on the condition of the
child, and to the eyes, ears, nose, throat,
teeth and skim
While the boy is in the detention home
awaiting 4 hearing, a probation officer
visits his home, looks up the history
ment, his association. how he came to be
a truant and what can be done to get
him started right. And so when the boy
is brought before the judge that official
is able 10 take him in charge, not so
much to punish as TO reform, not TO de-
grade but to uplift, not 10 crush but 10
develop, TO make him q worthy citizen
but not a criminal
The English Way.
When the English childrens bill was
under debate in the house of commons.
this defense was made by a supporter
of the measure: We want TO say to the
child that If the world or the worlds
law has not been his friend in the past,
it shall be now. We say that it is the
duty OF this parliament and that this
parliament is determined 70 lift, if pos
sible and rescue him, to shut the prison
door. and to open the door Of hope"
At best the work of the Juvenile court
IS palliative. Here. as in all modern work
for social betterment. prevention is the
-
the Chicago Juvenile court. says that
we are not opening the door OF hope
TO the delinquent child when I'VE fail
not merely to uproot the wrong. but to
implant f.. place Of it the positive good. /
We must study thoroughly the unlerly-
ing causes Of Juvenile delinquency in !
order to apply these preventive and posi- !
tive measures"
Lest we forget let's keep our money I