The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-09-05
JUVENILE DELINoUENTs
(By John B. Ley.)

matured product of hereditary tenden-
cies or wrong early environment, or
both. A conservative application of
eugenics promises some improvement
in. hereditament for those yet to be.
But even the best hereditament may
be overcome by early influences that
make for evil. Conversely wise,
healthful environment may and often
does modify, if not overcome the evil
influences of hereditary weakness.
There is no proposition more readily
and easily demonstrated. Social set
tlement work is based and projected,
and achieving its success by creating
clean moral atmosphere for those
whose surroundings have contributed
to delinquency, dependency and de
generacy.
In an important sense, the juvenile
court laws. now on the statute books
of most states are aimed at the crea-
ton of an environment which makes
for a worthy manhood. Even in small
communities, and the rural sections,
there is to be found a per cent. of the
children who are by birth and from
birth moral subnormals, just as there
are some who are born with physical
imperfections. And just as, under the
skilled hand of the physician. and
careful direction of a solicitous pa
rentage, very many physical defects,
which, if neglected, would produce
evil results, are so far corrected as to
be measurably overcome, so in the
matter of morals, proper care and
skilled training produce astonishingly
helpful results.
Take a concrete example. The av-
erage child who, we will say, practices
secret vices, or who appropriates
what does not belong to him, or who
is cruel, is rather immoral than inn
moral. That is to say, the moral
sense has been neglected. and is
dwarfed But this same average
child is susceptible of such example
and training as will correct, if not
overcome these things. Too often
this is impossible without the inter
posed aid of legal interference. One
or both parents may be dead, or dis
sipated, or criminal. Home life is a
travesty. From such scionage there
can be little less than a tree of evil
fruitage. But the law must be con-
sentative, and hence, not until there
is an open breach, has it authority to
interfere. Therefore, the juvenile
court. 1t has authority to go beyond
the open and fragrant violation, and
takes into custody "delinquents and
dependents"
AS probation officer, and earlier as
state secretary of the Juvenile pro-
tective association the writer has
gathered much information on thel
subject, and observed enough to de-
clare without equivocation, that in
telligently and conscientiously admin
istered, no work of our courts is
fraught with graver or greater impor-
lance than that which is directed to
save to society and to the worlds in
dustries the unkempt, unkept, un-
taught and unframed unfortunate
child.
True, this work is young yet. We
are not fully prepared to take care of
youthful offenders by local or central
places of temporary detention. But.
even with this handicap, since we
have the State Industrial School, we
can do and are doing very much that
bright little negro in custody. He
came up with dad name," but al
good face. He is ION honor" and
John, for that's his name, is easily
proving the value of healthful and!
helpful environment. I am expecting
others. Two more at least. Others
still are reported for investigation
This work is in its infancy. 1t is not
well understood by our people, but
it is growing. At present, no provis-
ion is made. either for temporary de-
tention or for the expenses of the pro.
baton officer, outside of his salary,
except for the transportation of those
who are assigned to the State Indus
trial School The expense to the local
officer is therefore, not inconsidera-
bic. Tehre must be food, clothes, as
we'll as temporary care. But what of
it? One child saved from an evil en-
vironment, from a life of crime and
shame, may be worth very much more
than the cost of the court, 'even in the
matter of money, to say nothing of
the moral benefit accruing to the
child himself.