The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-23
CURRENTCOMMENT
The Childrcn's Court of Fulton County.

The issue before the court ,s not whether
Tom. Dick or Harry did this that--not at
all. The child Is not hurried on jail dan
gerous to society The court is not so much
Interested in the crime in the child Itself.
Thus does Mr.. Philip Weltner. chief proba-
ton officer of the recently established Children q
Court Of Fulton county, strike the keynote of a
system that Ia of vital and far-r-ncnfng impor~
lance to this communtys social welfare. Juve-
nile courts are In sense Innovations In =
number OF Eastern and Western critics they have
existed for the past twelve years. BUT the fact
that the principals they embody have been In
auEurnted In Atlanta and producing such
fruitful results should be Of particular interest
to the State and the section and should inspire
following in scores OF other cities
In addition TO this. the methods that are
proving SO efficacious for youthful offenders
should be applied as far possible to our
courts at large.
The prime defect in, most penal systems is
that they ignore the human being In their blind
eagerness TO punish his misdoing. 1t ia little
wonder. therefore that crime continues to be
an iron burden upon society Instead OF deal
ing with causes. We have been dealing for the
most part with effects. We spend thousands
Of dollars In Furnishing wrong doors but give
scarcely a penny or a thought toward changing
the conditions that produce them.
This at least, has been course until re-
cent decades But happily the world is now
awakening to such folly. And among the first
steps forward has been the esta blishment of spe-
ciaI courts for Maynard erring children.
This court az conducted in Fulton county Ia
not 80 much a tribunal as a place where the
young defendant Is given a sympathetic hearing
and through which he receives constructive
help. Technically, 1t Is division Of the Superior
Court Its hearings are virtually private
EVERY complaint las Mr.. Weltner expfains)
Is hrst thoroughly and systematically investi-
gated. Where those in control OF the child
are capable of responsible cooperation the case
ends without ever going on the docket. no wit
neeses are called and the whole proceeding is
kept entirely confidential The investigator
twho IL the probation officer or one of his vol
unteer workers) assumes that there In a reason
Around the child there may be no inducement
to higher things or his heredity may be tainted
with the sins OF his forbears. This is the goal
OF the Investigator
Accordingly when the Judge comes to pass
upon particular case. he does so pretty much
as a physician would prescribe for some phy-
slcal Ill And he prescribe inteiligently
because a complete diagnosis of the case is be-
fore him.
In many instances young offender needs
only little kindly admonition. In some in
stances he Is lahoring under bodily defect
which Is the root of his moral trespasses In
sible. The vital point Is that under the juve-
nile court system ths' authorities inaugurate a
treatment instead OF merely making a case.
A more constructive or benehcent work could
not well be conceived: and in the long run it
Will prove as economical to the community as
1t Is humane to the individual The time must
come. moreover, when criminal courts at large
are concerned chiefly with tho man and Incl
dentally with his particular ofYense.--Atlanta
Journal