The Caucasian., 1913-10-30
FEDERAL GRAND JURY
Report Recommends that the State
Take Care OF Juvenile Offenders.

The report of the Federal Grand
Jury presented yesterday to Judge
Boarman deals with the duty of the
State toward the child and recon-
mends that the State hasten the
construction of juvenile reforma-
tories. I've report in full is as fol-
lows:
70 che honorable Aleck Boarman,
Judge of the District Court of the
United States for the Western Dis
trict Of Louisiana: We, your Grand
Jury, beg leave to submit this, our
Gnal report:
We have examined into twelve
leases. Prom this number we found
eight trAe bills and two no-true
|bills. Two cases, for lack of evil
ldence obtainable at THIS time, Vere
mot passed upon.
We desire to express to your
honor our deep sense oe apprecla-
.tion for the very able, comprehen-
|sive and instructive charge deliv-
|ered to this Grand Jury when it was
empaneled on Oct. 81. The charge
made a profound impressions upon
the members Of the jurr. We recog-
nize the justice of your honors con-
|tention relative to the establishment
of proper facilities for the care md
training of juvenile offenderA
The great conflict ever going %
between the eisible government,
represented by the powers % law
and order, and the invisible govern
ment, exemplified by the forces Of
disorder and lawlessness. will be dee
cided by the youth of the future.
While it is not within the prov
ince Of the law to undertake the
complete rearing and training OF
children, it is nevertheless the duty
of the law, when child falls into
its hands, to give that child such a
training as will tend to the correc-
tion of evil tendencies. The law has
often taken into its custody bad
child and turned out worse one.
That the law should be enforced and
|crime punished is the desire Of ev-
cry good citizen, but it is a well rec
|ognized fact, in criminology- as well
as in law, that an ounce of preven-
ton is better than pound of cure.
The State of Louisiana has adopt
ed what is generally known as a
juvenile law. This law has revolu-
tionized the methods of dealing with
youthful offenders, but it is practi-
cally ineffective by reason of the
fact that sufficient facilities have
not been provided for the care and
training of juveniles. The absence OF
such facilities has resulted in be-
lief, in certain sections, that juve-
niles can not be punished. Severe
punishment and evil associations
are unwise and harmful, especially
| to juveniles, but adequate methods
should be provided for the care and
training of such offenders, with a
view of inculcating respect for the
law, improving their morals ano
teaching useful knowledge. The
| Judges of the State courts have not
the means at hand for dealing out
salutafy correction, because OF the
lack of an adequate reformatory or
training school for youths.
The establishment of such institu-
tions is beyond the resources of the
several parishes. The obligation OF
supplying this pressing need rests
lupon the State. The State impera-
lively needs training school suffi-
lciently large for the accommodation
and properly equipped for the care
and training of youthful
/ offenders. We note with pleasure
that the last Legislature appropriat-
ed $4,000 for the rebuilding of tht
reformatory at Monroe, and w
4 trust that this appropriation will b
| followed by other large approprla
tions looking towards the early es
ltablishment and upbuilding of an in
.lstitution which will meet. in tn
| fullest degree, the necessities OF tn
i situation and the demands OF hu
manity.
i We congratulate your honor upol
| the efforts you have made toward
1.-THE growth of sentiment in this re
gard; we indulge the hope that you
/ wishes will soon be realized, an
that you will, at a date not far dis
liant, see in Louisiana an institution
! 1 thoroughly equipped for the refor
nation and training OF all delinquen
juveniles who may enter its walls
: and which such an institution WI
send out into the world as good an
aseful citizens.
In conclusion, we wish to exten
to yoer honor and to the variou