The Washington herald., 1912-01-14

III
never begins a hearing OF the case with
out explaining TO them the nature Of the
oath which they are required to take be-
fore giving testimony IN court OF JUS
tice.
when YOU take the OATH" explfins
Judge De Lacy. you uplift your right
hand and call upon God, whose truth
Is a searcher OF all hearts. and who
can neither deceive nor be deceived,
to help you that you may ten the
truth, the whole truth. and nothing
but the truth. Now, II you don't tell
the truth, you are guilty OF crime
called perjury, for which you may be
sent to the penitentiary for five years
or more. Do you understand II, boysr
Yes, SIR" declare the youngsters,
ignorant of what the court has said
through their excitement and eager
ness to get on the stand and tell their
version of the story.
But these are but daily scenes in the
court room of the building. These
scenes are repeated every afternoon
between the hours of and o'clock.
But there Is q yaster and more i'm
portant work which goes on unseen
by the public before and after court
hours. This is the work of the proba-
tion officers.
Probing Home Conditions.
These officers investigate the home
conditions surrounding each offender
who Is brought before the tribunal,
and keep a watchful eye 6ver many
OF the children after they have been
dealt with by Judge De Lacy.
Most of the Juvenile offenders, es-
peciaily those brought before the court
for the first time. are placed upon
probation for periodsN varying from
three months to year. This means
that the children must gather at the
court twice each month for the pur-
pose OF receiving moral instruction:
that they must attend school regu-
larly, II they are not working; that
they must go to Sunday school. and
that their homes will be visited fire.
quently by probation officers.
The school children meet at the court
on Saturday afternoons, and the work.
ing boys assemble on Sunday after
moons. The girl probationers are re-
quired to report at the court at stated
periods. usually en- Thursday after
Moons. The probationers are addressed
by the Judge and the officers on the
subject of good citizenship and char
acter building. They are warned
against indulging in the use OF tobacco
and into1icants and are required to
practice personal cleanliness. Habits
of thrift are taught, and the children
are urged against indulging in harm
full amusements.
While on probation the children are
lent good. healthy juvenile books.
which have been donated to the court
by interested friends and officials OF
the Public Library. The probation
officers are required to report at the
court each morning at s o'clock. The
House OF Detention furnishes list of
the Juvenile offenders who have been
arrested during the preceding twenty
four hours, and John r. Dillon. chief
probation officer. then divides the cases
of Investigation among the force of
officers. There are three officers, in
cluding Mr. Dillon. Miss Jean King Is
given the girls cases and same of the
nonsupport cases, and the remaining
cases are divided between Mr.. Dillon
and Joseph W. Sanford, the third pro-
baton oficer.
The three officers then start on an
investigation tour OF the homes of
the children who are to appear in court
in the afternoon. This work is COM
pleted by noon. and the work OF the
court proper is then attended TO. While
the oficers are on these investigation
tours, they also take the opportunity
OF visiting the homes OF any other pro-
bationers who may live in the neigh
visit the home of each probationer
once a month
Two nights a week each oficer must
make night visits to the homes Of the
probationers. These visits are made
between nightfall and o'clock.
Then" says Judge De Lacy, speaking
of this phase OF the probation work.
''the real unit in the state. the entire
family, is apt to be present. The child
Is. after ali. but the fraction, and its
eficient probation treatment requires
Il to receive attention in the integer
OF which he is q part. The friendly
interest in the child's welfare, thus
brought TO the attention Of HIS elders.
is sure to elicit the hearty cooperation
Of the parents with the work OF the
probation officers and the court
During the year 557 children were
placed on probation. At present there
are more than 1000 probations under
the watchful eyes-ef the court on
cials. The efficiency OF the probation
system is Illustrated in the fact that
but few of the offenders come into
court again. During the past year
there were only 155 backsliders. who
were brought before Judge De Lacy
for the second tiuID There were but
thirty-one who came into court for the
third time, and only four were ar
raigned before the tribunal for the
fourth time.
Last year 1.297 cases were investi-
gated by the probation officers, and
4,sl4 visits were made to probationers
homes.
Two nights each week are devoted
be the probation officers TO visiting
the club and theater districts after
o'clock. The officers search for pro-
batfoners. and II any is found, he is
Immediately taken home and presented
to his parents A mark OF demerit Is
also placed on his probation card. thus
going against his record All un-
attended children under fourteen years
OF age are talked to by the officers, and
are sometimes escorted to their homes
The probation officers report that
there IA a surprisingly small number
az unattended children in the theater
districts after dark Effective work
mas been done. however, In dealing
with these children.
Probation means character oulto-
ing saws Judge De Lacy, praising the
probatjon svstem. ut is a new GUS
todial care exercised without incarcer-
alton"
Judge De Lacy estimates that fully
SO per cent Of the children charged
with serious oftenses become delin
quent by reason of unnt parents ano
unsuitable homes. The homes OF most
Of these youthful onenoers are oom-
iciles where the father o.sslpates nls
earnings instead Of providing TOT tne
family. and where examples on sreeo1