Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
SCORES |NTOx|CAT|0N LAW
Probation Officer Sherman
Points Out Its Faults.
Annual Report Submitted--OTiciRI
Also Declares system of Sending
DRINKS to Waterbury Ii n Fail
ure-IBig Expense.

Several Burlington citizens who have
been unfortunate enough to be convicted
OF intoxlcation for the third time in the
last two years have found themselves
deported to Waterbury for a six months
treatment. according to law which was
passed in 1912. and the treatment" has
not always worked out satisfactorily, for
In many instances those taking II have
escaped from the institution, others have
found after they had served n full term
that they we're not immune from in
toxicants and n number have found them
selves going back for second and third
treatment
Probation Officer A. l.. Sherman of
this city, who has direct custody Of all
those who are committed to the institu-
| ton for the purpose named, has some
| thing to say about the law In his semi
anrDial report which ne has just sub
mitted to the present term of Chittenden
county court In his opinion the law
should be repealed or radically amended
because 1T fails to accomplish the good
It's trainers anticipated and also because
1t is a source Of big expense.
In his report Mr. Sherman says that
since the law has been in effect there
have been 50 Chttcnden county cases
committed to the State hospital, which
increased the expenses of the probation
officers office besides costing the State
practically $40 for each case while being
Kept at the hospital, or expense of
over 5000. In his opinion the commit
ments should be made from the sheriff 8
department direct thus saving unneces-
sarN expense and steps, and reducing the
number Of cases under probation. He
says further there is nothing gained by
having the respondents report to him
while they are at the hospital and there
is no authority remaining to compel
the respondents to report to him after
their time Of commitment has expired
The results obtained from the treat
| ment for intoxication at Waterbury have
been very unsatisfactory, 80 far as
Chittenden county is concerned. says MIR
Sherman. and he adds as his opinion
that he irnot sure that there is one case
out of the whole 81 that can be pointed
TO having been permanently benefited.
Good results have been obtained for
a longer time by straight probation
The report goes on to say:
There are too many cases of in
toxication placed in charge of this of
| flee. One reason, it seems to me. lies
! In the extreme penalty provided for the
| offense by our statutes. as in the case
of second offcnse if the respondent
| cannot pay his fine the shortest term
he can get in Jail is thirty days and the
court is naturally loath to commit man
to iail because he has no money to imme-
| diately pay his fine but may be earning
good wages In position that he may
lose if given so long a term in Jail.
| Every day in iail costs the State g.
| cents. which means that every one CON
| victed of the second offense and COM
mitted to jail costs the STATE not less
than sl9j0. and from that to nearly SO
II seems to me that some Of our in
creased expenses that We hear so much
complaint about IS accounted for right
! here. If the respondent convicted of in
toxication. first offcnse. can pay a fine
and costs it means that tn" state takes
from him or his family. if he has one,
| ahut eleven or twelve dollars. as the
case may be. and for a second offonsc,
s2l, which the STATE adds t. the sum
| already wasted for liquor.
In my Judgment. drawn from several
years experience as a prosecuting Of
|
that a much shorter Jail sentence and a
much smaller fine should he provided in
| these cases"
The report points out that the real
first offender Is usually chagrined to
find himself in jail at all and will end
his ways If 1t he in him. For the old
offenders enough days in jail to recover
from the effects of their debauch is
| Pcian bo
drunk. then remain sober for n greater
or less length of time, according to the
Individual, when they have completely
gotten over their carouse. The probation
officer concludes that 1t is better for the
State that the victims Of the habit should
work at large for themselves and for
those depending on them as much as
possible rather than that the State
should be supporting them in confine-
ment at large expense and their
families an object Of charity. Mr.. SHEER
man says that provision should be made
for the lazy dipsomaniacs Six months
is not long enough for them and they
should work in confinement.
| In the report of the regular business
Of his office. the probation officer gives
some interesting figures for the period
from the first daY of the March term
to the first day OF the September term
OF court. At the beginning OF the period
there were l6l cases on the docket OF
these 10 have been released by expira-
ton OF term; ~ have been discharged on
recommendation; seven have been sur
rendered for violation OF their conditions
one has deceased; one was discharged
by order of court leaving 80 old cases
There have been received by the office
In the period mentioned 1l6 cases as fol
lows: 10 conditlonally pardoned by tn,
Governor; 81 from Burlington city court
six from Wnooski municipal court; sS
from county court; four from justices
OF the peace; "A from probate court. o.
these eight have been released by ex.
uration of term; six have violated theil
conditions and have been surrendered
leaving 1Oo new cases which. combined
with the old cases, make a grand tota
OF 1874 now on probation.
THREE STORY GARAGE.