The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-06
ARE NOT SO BAD.
Shawnee County Children Are
Evidently Improving.
Fewer Cases Come Before the
Juvenile Court.
PARENTS ARE WORSE.
Much Trouble to Have Fathers
Support Families.
New Law Is Meeting With 0reat
Favor.

Shawnee county children are grow
| ing better, while their elders show less
respect for their marital vows, ac-
cording to records compiled in the Of
fee of w. F. Schoch, probate judge
In the annual comparative report for
the year ending July 1, there are fewer
cases in the juvenile court and a de-
cided increase of prosecutions under
the delinquent parent act.
For the year ending July 1, 1910,
there we're 1852 Shawnee county boys
and girls, who were registered in the
Topeka court for violations of the law.
But for the twelve months ending July
1, this year, but lis cases came under
the supervision of Judge Schoch. This
was a falling off Of more than 20 per
cent in this division of the probate
court and perhaps one of the best rec
ords made by any juvenile court IN
the densely populated counties of the
state. In neither of the reports are
recorded the children who were
brought to the court for correction and
instruction by relatives or cited for
trivial offenses.
Against this report showing an i'm
provement in the morals of the chill
dren of the county, is the report show
ing an increase of more than so per
cent in the number of delinquent par
ent cases filed in the court. In the last
year Judge Schoch sent nine delin-
quent children-four boys and I'VE
girls-to the state industrial schools
In almost every delinquent parent case
brought before the court provision was
made for better support and increased
comfort Of the family.
The record in the delinquent par
ent cases shows that II cases were
brought in Judge Schoch's court in
the year ending July 1, 1910. Against
this showing is a record Of 27 cases
| filed in the court in the current year
This is an increase of practically so
per cent. Speaking of this radical in
crease, Judge Schoch said:
ST attribute the increase in delin-
quent parent cases almost entirely to
! a general public demand for the en-
forcement of this law. There is a
vigorous demand that the parent make
provision for the support of his or her
family and 1 believe that this demand
will result in a healthy improvement
Of conditions in Topeka and Shawnee
county"
Numerous cases have lately been
| brought before the court where the
but contributed little OF nothing tow
ard the support of his family. Wives
and mothers were compelled to labor
| for their own support and a small earn
| ing with which to provide for the urgent
needs of their children. Many OF the
| children affected in these cases nave
been mere babies and children dernand-
| ing almost the constant care and at
tention of an elder.
But in the juvenile court Judge
Schoch thinks there is much credit due
the more general understanding of The
| law.
People understand the provisions OF
the law better than ever before" said
Judge Schoch in discussing his partic~
ularly favorite court, land 1 believe
that in 80 per cent of cases which we
now handle, that I have the cO-opera-
ton and assistance of the parents
Against this condition is contrasted the
| lack Of interest and almost open re-
sistance by fully one-half of the par
ents during my early administration
People have only lately come to realize
that this is a court of correction and
not a court of punishment and this mas
aided in raising the morals of the chill
dren.''
Judge Schochs juvenile court has at
/ tanned a state wide record. His merhod
| in handling the children has won favor
| for the law in this county where 4
| few years ago there was open oppo-
| sition to the law and its enforcement;
Each Saturday morning score OF
| children of various ages, all colors ano
nationalities, report to Judge SchoeL
! These boys and girls are watched
closely and when it is decided that the
Youngsters have fully reformed. they
are released from the supervision OF
| the court.