The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-13
PROBATION LAW KEEPS
MANY FAMILIES INTACT
Shiftless Husbands and Fathers Made
To support Those Naturally de-
pendent Upon Them.
OFFICERS COLLECT LARGE SUNS
During September SSD:;, Greatest in
Single Month. Turned Over to
Wives for Maintenance of Them
selves and Their Children.

In former years wives and children
who were neglected by husband and
father werc also objected by the lax,
and they had to make shift for them
selves unless charity interccded or Tho
poorhoUs. opcncd its doors 10 them.
Now the Laws steps ia. and the sitiftless
husband ana father is made |" support
ihoS" wh" naturally Call under his care
II used generally To ,n.an u iai, SEN
fence FOR him IL the wife brourh, and
followed UP a complain, agains, him.
I;ut III jail hc VAS no more good 10
nor and the children than he was
out OF jail. 80 new remedy had 10
he found.
u was found in the nonsupport law
when the trustees recently attempted
and strengthened i'll succeeditr LeEis-
lttur.s Under lis provisions proba
ton SYSTEM for delinquent and shift
less husbands and fathers was formed.
and probation officers we're appointed
TO see that they ob"yed the mandates
OF magist"rial courts ~ TO tho sup
port Of those they had failed.
NONSlPPORT LAW
SUCCESS IN KICHuOND
In Richmond. as in other cities. ac-
cordin. to a police official, The nom
support law has succeeded. ana it aas
effected Il wonderful reform. Men who
once Spcnt most OF their time in police
stations and jails aud whose families
eked out but a scanty living, arc now.
under the supervision OF probation Of
iccrS. supporting those dependent upon
them and are saved the disgrace OF
Spreading large part OF their time
behind the bars
In Richmond last month the money
collected lay Probation officers Poitiaux
ana Wheaton from delinquent hus-
! bands amounted to SSc3.9j. the largest
amount collected in any single month
since the nonsuppOrt law was enacted
/ The money ~ immediately turned over
/ To the wives. amt they have the spend
/ in" OF ii. and il goes without saying
/ that it is spent only for the maintc-
! nance OF themselves and their chill
I drcn. After being brought to court
and heard upon evidence. the delin-
| quent. If the charge he proved. is or
dered 10 report 10 the probation Of
! iiccrs every week and to pay out Of
! his wages such amount as the tr.a,
! magistrate has ordered II the delin-
qucnt husband fails To appear before
! the probation officer at the appointed
| time the probation officer seeks him
ont and demands the laws toll Failing
/ this, the offender may bc arrested unon
/ a warrant sworn to by the probation
/ officer, and he again brought before the
| trial magistrate. who in his discretion
| may again continue the case. or forfeit
| his reco"ui2ancc and commit the Ic-
! linQuent To Jail. In every instance
! Justice Crutchficld before whom all
nonsupport cases come. gives the man
several chances. if necessary before
/ resorting TO the final penalty
LAW KEEPS INTACT
NUMBERLIsSS FAMILIES
An Official OF the Police Department
said yesterday that numbcrlcss fami-
lies have Been Kept intact by the law,
and that under the kindly direction
he ~ t1t f,tIi1
bands and fathers have been changed
I into careful and fostering providers
! The tax ON public charity, he said had
! been reduced, the jail populati ton has
I been decreased and. more than all
! he added, mothers have not been sep
arated from their children. The 70
lice Department, he went on, has been
/ relieved OF some Of its detail and a
( general benefit has accrued. Il under
stand lie said. that the collections
J for the last month are in excess of
: those Of any previous month. which
| does NOT mean that there have been
/ more delinquent husbands but that
! those under probation have been more
! faithful in their response"
Z Under an net approved by the Cen
/ crai Assembly on March Il. 1919 The
/ judge Of amy court, police id..tica or
/ Justice OF Tie peace in cities of 40
! Goa Inhabitants or more may continue
/ The case and admit To bail any person
/ brought before him charged with being
An hahitual drunkard, with failing to
/ support his wife or children. with bc-
ing vasrant or an idler able to work,
/ and to commit such person To the SUI
/ pcrvision of "a probation officer. The
probation officer is required TO keen The
! deliQucnt under constant supervision
and to use every effort to stimulate
| him TO reformation. Many have been
reformed.