Evening journal., 1911-01-28
JUVENILE
COURT BILL
Advocates Of Reform Urge
Upon legislators Necessity
Of Passing Measure
BILL IS EXPLAINED
BY FRIENDS OF MOVEMENT

Wilmington members OF the Legis-
lature met citizens Of Wilmington at
third conference in City Council
chamber, last evening, to discuss the
proposed Juvenile Court bill.
The meeting was largely attended
by both men and women, and the
arguments I'm favor Of the bill were
many and earnest No man or wo-
man opposed the measure in any way.
and from the great interest manifest
ed and the amount of enthusiasm dis
played It is evident that the people
Of Wilmington, at least, are concerned
over the bill and hope for its pass
age by the Legislature.
Caleb y. Burchenal presented the
bill in behalf of its advocates. and
briefly reviewed its purposes and its
contents. Each section was spoken
Of briefly as follows: Section In
regard to the institution of the court
I'm any city Of more than $4,000 in
habitants where a Judge shall be ap-
pointed and the institution of such a
court in an outlying district where the
resident judge shall be at the head
of It.
Section dealing with ages of the
children whose cases shall come be-
fore the Juvenile Court, boys being
younger than II and girls younger
, than IS.
Section IDEALS with the classes OF
crimes which shall come to the atten-
tion of the court and makes il un-
lawful for any boy or girl to be found
in a place of III repute, pool-rooms,
gambling houses or to be found in
dulging In the use of cigarettes, drink,
profanity. truancy or other such i'm
moralities.
Section 4-Provides that the judge
OF the Juvenile Court of city shall
be appointed by the Supreme Court
at salary of $1,000 per year.
Section IDEALS with the keeping
Of the court room records.
Section 6-CaHs upon the clerk Of
the peace OF the county as the correct
agent to keep the court records.
Section ideals with the probation
officers Of the court and gives the
court the right TO appoint one officer
at 81 900 per year salary, and IL neces-
sary, an assistant at a salary OF $500
with provision for as many unsalaried
officers under the supervision of the
head probation officer as the court
may deem Il advisable to have I'm the
field; and in this field It shall be the
duty Of the officers 10 assist the chill
dren In their uplift and interest them
selves in the welfare of the children.
Section S--Deals with the manner Of
the presentation of the case to the
court and provides for the keeping
Of the child while awaiting the trial
in several ways. The child may be
allowed TO go on his own recognizance
or may be boarded out to a reliable
party or IN any institution; it further
provides that no child under IA years
of age be confined in any lookup or
Jail
Section a-Proyides that when ar
rested child must go before the
Juvenile Court for trial and cannot
be tried before the Municipal Court
under any consideration.
Section 1O-Provides what shall be
done with the child following the trial
and says that the child can be sent
TO an Institution. left under the super
vision OF the probation officer to re-
port back TO the Judge at regular
periods be boarded out to reliable
parties where he may have the chance
of becoming one of the family.
Section ideals with the cost OF the
court and states that the cost would il
anything, be smaller than at present
necessary to carry on such cases in
the City Court owing 10 the fact that q
number of commitments would be es-
capped and money saved in this man
ner.
section 1g-Provides for a board Of
visitation to make yearly visits to the
different institutions and places
where the children are laced and
that they report back TO the court
how the children are being taken
care of. etc.
Section 13-Deals with the making
compulsory for the parents to support
their children where they are so able
TO do and that the court shall investi-
! gate such cases and compel the par
ents to do so.
Section 14-Making IL a misdemeanor
/ for any adult person to assist or aid a
child 10 commit any act which will
make him eligible for a trial before
/ the court. This case will be consid-
cred a misdemeanor and will be pun
| ishable by a fine of $500 or three
months in prison and the same shall
be tried I'm the Superior Court.
Section 15-Providing that the court
/ shall have the power to impose condi-
/ tions or suspend sentence upon any
person found guilty under the fore
going section.
Section 16--Making the City Courts
aud the Court of General Sessions
concordsnt in their power TO hear and
/ try all such cases.
Section 17-Provides for the pay
ment OF the Jurors and other costs
which at present are met In such
cases when carried on before a JUS
I tice of the Peace.
Section 1S-Provides for a liberal
/ constituting of the bill and providesthat
the children be placed, as often as
possible, in homes where the people
are OF the same denomination as them
selves.
Section 19-Deals with the repeal of
all present acts and laws consistent
/ with the r,ronnaad hill