The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-05
Juvenile COURT
ASKS FOR FUNDS
COUNCIL Is MEMoRIALTzED TO M
CREASE APPROXIMATION FOR
THIS IxsTITuTIoN.
REPORT ON IT'S WORK
SHOWS THAT 1T HAS
ACCOMPLISHED MUCH DURING
THE NINE MONTHS THAT 1T
HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE.

The Juvenile Protective Society of
Virginia. of which the Rev. II. d, c.
Maclachlan is president. has address
ed a memorial to the city council
Of Richmond, in which is set forth
what has been accomplished by the
Juvenile court OF this city as an ar
gument for an increased appropria-
ton for the coming year for this in
stitution.
The court was established on April
I'd, and for the first nine months of
it's existence most interesting re-
port is made, showing a great
amount Of work coming within its
Jurisdiction. For the first year the
council appropriated $4,000 for Its
maintenance. The association LIS now
asking that this amount be raised to
$1,000 for the second year, and 1t Is
expected that the finance committee
OF council win see its way clear to
make this recommendation.
Handles Many Cases.
The report shows that during the
nine months of its existence the
court has had 46s cases before it.
of which 1877 were white boys. 80
white girls. 1872 negro boys. and 60
A.
there is very little difference between
the white boys and the negro boys.
while the negro girls are double the
number of white girls However. the
number of white girls who were
brought to the court, Is sufficient to
cause the members Of the association
alarm.
The charges involved in these cases
ranged from 1872 cases of disorderlY
rnndfYrf Ghnatfnr o. a ND
throwing rocks to five cases of MUIR
der, three cases of criminal assault
and other felonious cases on the part
Of the boys. OF the girls, there were
twenty-eight charges involving i'm
morality and minor offenses.
Probation Is Successful.
The court, assisted by the society.
and in many of them 1t was found
that probation was the most effective
method OF redemption. The effect Of
this method. as shown by the me-
mortal. Is that OF 100 children placed
on probation only eighteen have since
appeared In Police court.
Cases involving serious offenses are
carefully Investigated by the probation
officers. In making such an investi-
CATION the home Of the child is visited.
and. when necessary, employers,
teachers. family physicians, neighbors
and others who have an acquaintance
with the child are interviewed. It is
always the aim OF the probation Of
ficcr to ascertain the essential facts
concerning the chiid's environment
and previous history. and from these
facts to discover the underlying
causes OF his delinquency.
The Girl Question.
The association regards as one Of
the most important aspects Of the
work OF the court its care OF young
girls. This phase OF its work has
constantly increased and 1t now looms
up ms one of the courts biggest and
mortal. Complaints are constantly
coming in from parents and guard
ians whose daughters or wards have
become incorrigib1e."
In this connection, the memorial
says:
Thanks to the interest and good
will of the Girls Auxiliary of the In
structiye Visiting Nurses association
the Juvenile court has, during the past
two months, been able to handle cases
in the manner demanded by humanity
and justice. In the month of Novem-
Der last that society generously Of
fered to the court. for q period OF
three months. the services of a woman
probation officer. Miss Sarah b.
Roller, q young lady OF uOeral e0ucA~
ton and wide experience in social
work. was selected to I'LL the new po-
sition. and she has labored untiringiy
and most efficiently In the service OF
the court ~ Sss :
Since the appointment Of Miss Roll
er as a. probation ofIicer stxten cases
have been referred to her by the court
for investigation and seven girls have
been placed on probation under her.
In addition 10 these cases, however,
she has responded to rs unofficial
complaints" and has taken six chill
dren under her supervision unoficial-
ly. Her aim In all these cases has
been to remedy the trouble--to reform
the chiid-without having the child
brought before the court. The reason
for this L. obvious: To bring girl into
court--no matter what the charge
marks her for life. and generally
causes her to be ostrAcized by her
playmates and companions. In the
majority Of cases OF sc-cAlled incor-
rigtbla girls, II the girl (while young)
can be brought into touch with help
full and uplifting influences. ana at the
same time removed N far an nossibiA