The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-04-30


Many of the unfortunates whom
5saw there regarded the law as a
( frevengeful monster, sort of Jugger-
naut that would work fearful ruin
upon any one who got in it's way
but otherwise was not matter OF
concern When explained to them
that the law was their friend and
not their enemy, they did not appear
to comprehend.
/ In one place there was broken
down woman with six children.
Two of the Children had been arrest
] ed for stealing coal from car. The
mother explained that her man.
was in the Bridewell sobering up
from one of his frequent drunks and
that they had no money to buy coal,
which was plainly apparent. Here
were children forced to become
criminals because the law was help
less to correct their father.
/ ''The House of Corruption
In substantially every case that
investigated. l found that, notwith-
standing the efficient management
of our work house, the offender had
come out less desirable member of
society than when he went in; his
employment was gone, his reputa-
tion was injured, his will weakened,
his knowledge of crime and criminal
practices greatly increased. AS one
young girl expressed it: 1T is not
a House of Correction, but House
of Corruption"
l decided therefore, to try the
plan of suspend1ng over such offend
ers the maximum sentence permitted
by law, and allow them to determine
by their subsequent conduct whether
they should lose or retain their
liberty, with the full knowledge that
further delinquency meant, not an
other trial with its possibility of
acQuittal. or brief sentence, but
summary and severe punishment.
AS condition precedent to allow
ing such an offender his liberty,
required him to promise that he
would not again indulge in the thing
which was responsible for his wrong
doing. In the great majority of
cases this was the use of intoxicat-
ing liquor;in some, the use of drugs or
cigarettes, the patronizing of cheap
t.aeaters, or evil associates. | also
required him for time to report to
me at regular intervals, usually
every two weeks, when a night
session of the court was held
for such purpose, and to bring with
him his wife or other witness who
could testify TO his subsequent con-
duct.
Four Hundred Probation Officers
A serious difficulty then pre-
sented itself. | saw that as their
numbers increased. it would become
impossible for me to keep in per-
sonal touch with all these offenders.
No parole Jaw for adults, with it's
paid probation officers exists in
Illinois, and no funds for this pur-
pose were available. / determined,
therefore, to appeal to the business
men of the district to serve as volun-
teer probation officers. Through the
lawyers who practised in my court.
| secured list of nearly one hun
dred business and professional men
who gladly consented to visit one or
more defendants each month and
report to me in writing upon blanks
which l furnished them. The num-
ber of probation officers was subse-
quently increased to about four
hundred, and their monthly reports
were entered upon our special
docket, which contained the neces-
sary memoranda and history of the
case made at the trial.
Certainly no more valuable object
lesson was ever presented to hust-
ling, money-loving, pleasure hunting
Nu1O0SO Iudu tuCSC uOCGOI6, law yCIS,
manufacturers, and merchants going
into the homes of their poor and un-
fortunate neighbors and taking a.
genuine interest in their welfare.
Here was tie ideal probation officer,
whose feeling for his ward was
something more than chilly pro-
fessional solicitude; and splendidly
did these men do their work. Many
of them did more than show a pass
ing interest in the offenders assigned
to them. They often gave them en-
ployment and encouraged them by
increasing their wages from time to
time. 1t was a common thing for
substantial business men to appear
in court and offer employment to
persons whom they wished placed
on probation, agreeing at the same
time to repOrt regularly as to their