The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-02-08
JUVENILE COURTS
New Method for Control of Deepen.
dent and Delinquent Children


the act of the recent legislature de-
finlng and regulating the control OF
dependent and delinquent childrn: i.
An act to define and regulate the
treatment and control OF dependent
and delinquent children: to provide
for their disposition, care, education,
protection, support, maintenance,
punishment, guardianship and adops
ton; to prescribe the powers and
duties of courts, police officers and
probation officers with respect there
to; to fix the jurisdiction over jul
venile offenders in the probate court
and prescribe its powers and proce-
dure in such cases; and to restrict
the Imprisonment of children.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the state of Vermont:
Section 1. This act snail apply only
to children under the age of sixteen
years; provided, however, that when
child under the age of sixteen years
shall come into the custody of the ju-
venile court under the provisions OF
this act, such child shall continue,
for all necessary purposes Of discipline
ward of such court until, If such
child be boy, he shall attain the
age of twenty-one years, and If such
child be girl until she has attained
the age of eighteen years, unless
sooner discharged as hereinafter pro-
vided. The words ''deliquent child"
shall, for the purpose of this act, in
clude a child under sixteen years OF
age who violates a law of this state
..ft xr or will N
who is incorrigible; or who is a per-
sistent truant from school; or who
associates with criminals or reputed
criminals, or vicious or immoral per-
sons; or who is growing up in idle
ness or crime; or who wanders
about the sire Its in the night time,
or who freQuents, visits, or is found
in a disorderly house. house of Ill
fame, saloon, barroom or place
where Intoxicating liquors are solL.
exchanged or given away; or who
patronizes, visits, or is found in a
gambling house or place where
gambling device is operated; or who
uses vile, obscene. vulgar, profane or
indecent language. or is guilty of i'm
moral conduct For the purposes of
lIlS act the MOluo utpChutHN Nlllu
or neglected child" shall mean a
child under sixteen years of age who
is dependent upon the public for sup
port; or who is homeless, destitute.
or abandoned; or who has not proper
parental care or guardianship; or who
begs or receives aims; or who Is
found living in house of ill fame or
with a vicious or disreputable per-
son; or whose home by reason of ne
glect, cruelty or depravity on the part
of its parents, guardian or other per
son in whose care 1t may be, Is an I'M
fit place for such child, or whose ell
vironment Is such as to warrant the
state, in the interests of the child, In
assuming it's guardianship. The word
child" or children" as used in this
| act, may mean one or more children,
and the word parent" or parents"
may mean one or both parents as
may be consistent with the intent of
the act.
&c. 2. The probate courts of the
several probate districts in this state
shall have original jurisdiction of all
cases coming within the provisions
of this act, in their respective dis
tricts, and child against whom pro
| ceedings are had under this act, and
| the parent or guardian of such child,
shall have the right to an appeal from
| the action of the probate court in the
same manner in which appeals are
| taken from said court in other caus-
es, provided that no recognizance or
bond for such appeal shall be requir.
| cd Tho nrOhatA hDn
separate record of proceedings under
this act to be known as a Juvenile
record"
Sec. 3. \ reputable person who is
a resident of the. probate district, hav
ing knowledge of a child in his dis
trict who appears to be either depen.
dent or delinquent, may file with the
probate court for that district a peti.
ton in writing, setting forth the facts,
verified by oath. II shall be sufficient
that the facts stated in such petition
are upon information and belief.
Sec. 4. Upon the filing of the petit
ton, summons shall issue requiring
the person having the custody or con-
troll Of the child, or with whom the
child may be, to appear Immediately
II
the summons. The parent or guar
| dlan, or II there lie neither. then q re-
lative of such child. if the residence
OF such relative be known, shall be
notified of the proceedings, and, In
any case. the judge may appoint some
suitable person to act in behalf of the
| child. II the person summoned as
/ herein provided fails. without reason
/ able cause, to appear and abide the
/ order of court. or bring the child. he
/ may be proceeded against as for a
contempt of court. In case the sum-
mons cannot be served or the party
/ served falls TO obey the same, or, in
I any case, when 1t is made to appear
TO the court that such summons will
be Intellectual, warrant may issue
on the order Of court, either against
the parent or guardian, or the person
having custody of the child. or with
whom the child may be. or against
the child itself. On the return OF the
summons or other process, OF as
soon thereafter as may be, the court
snail proceed to hear and dispose of
the case In a summary manner. Pend
ing the final disposition of case. the
child may be retained in the posses
sion OF tine person having charge Of
lne same, OF may be kept. in the dis
creuon OF the court. in some suitable
place provided by the city or town
authorities or by some private indivi
uuai or association. OF placed in
charge Of the probation officer.
Sec D The probation officer for the
county In which the probate court Is
held, shall, al the request OF such
court. inNeefirafa &C., a-i.lrr -.