The Washington times., 1914-04-23
Bv MRS. GILES SCOTT RAFTER.

The individual whose eyes are
open to the Juvenile Court prob
lens of today is filled with wonder
why the process has been so slow
in developing methods to prevent
the seemingly ever-increasing juve-
nile delinquency. It is all very be-
wildering.
As far back as 1910 a law was
passed in England, For the Care
and Education of Infant| Who May
Be Convicted OF Felony" This law
provided that upon application. any
person under twent5-one years who
may be convicted Of felony may be
placed in the care Of individuals or
associations that agree to teach and
train such persons.
In 1860. Massachusetts passed a
law separating children from adults
in the courts. In 1877. New York
passed a similar law which also
provided that no child under six
teen shall be placed In any prison
established "A State Agency For
the Care of Juvenile Offenders" In
sz3
AS enlightened a State as Massa-
chusetts did not pass probation laws
until B1S. Charles Dickens plea for
the children in many Of his writings
did more to move people to do some
thing for the abandoned. unloved
child than any other person. but
eighty years more or less have roll
ed by since he wrote, and still the
problem Of the child Is with us in
all its puzzling features.
Here we are with the children on
parhanl II In true that
great progress has been made Per
haps, we have made and are making
wonderful plans, do sec visions and
dream dreams. But in the mean
while have We any right to let the
law lay its hand on our little boys
change conditions that lead to the
arrest of these infants? We are in
the grip of tradition. The law
which really created the Juvenile
Court was that passed by the Illi-
nois Legislature April 81, 1893. Its
framework of many Of the laws
passed in other States.
Coupled with the wonder that such
a law had not been enacted years
and years ago. Is the still greater
wonder aroused by the immense
field of activity which 1t opens up
and the practically limitless area
of possibility which il controls. The
child problem, the problem OF prob
lens, herein lie the forces which
move civilization toward veal or to-
ward woe.
Every Juvenile court should be q lab
oratory. The causes that produce de-
linquency. the infantile diseases that
later broaden into crime. all these
sources that feed the mills of the
courts should be studied from the
endless supply always at hand. The
juvenile court laws. although no
longer an experiment: are still in
their infancy. Since the passage Of
the Illinois law the growth and de-
velopment Of the juvenile court has
been rapid and extensive. but few
States are satisfied with their orig
inal laws.
Would Hold Parent to Account.
There is a decided opinion Of those
who are dealing most directly with
the child that the parents or guar
dams should be summoned as contri-
buting to the offense Of the child.
and should be fined and ordered to
give security for its good behavior.
1t will be said that many parents
whose children are brought into the
courts are already objects of char
ity. Very true: but taking money
away from people 10 not the only
way in which to punish them.
A number of fundamental prin-
ciples underlie Juvenile Court legis-
lation and its decisions. First. chill
dren never should be considered as
criminals. but as victims of circum-
stances. Distinction must be made
between neglected, dependent, and
hayward children and delinquents
and incorrigibles. Second. all the re-
sources of the community should DO
used by the court to promote the
welfare of the child and to protect
it. Third, children should be tried
In special rooms. with the least pos
sible publicity or display Of legal
machinery. and the whole process
disassociated from criminal proce-
dure Fourth. the judge should be
a child expert" and the probation
officers competent, in adequate num-
Der, and adequately paid. Fifth,
parents or guardians should be held
responsible for the offenses OF the
child ] would go further than this,
knowing from years of work and
constant association with children
that arresting a child destroys a
part of that child's nature that no
judge nor jury in the land ever can