The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11
PROBATION SYSTEMS SPREAD.

NNE OF the most active Of tho
" small departments Of the New
York State government Is tho
State Probation Commission. As
shown by a recent report on the State
departments prepared for the benefit
of the Constitutional Convention by
the Department Of Efficiency and
Economy and tho New York Bureau
OF Municipal Research this commits
SION Is entirely separate in It's organ
ization and dutiee from any other
State department. II has a large and
unique field. namely, that OF develop
ing, extending and improving proha-
ton work in all the courts Of he
State.
Probation Is defined a. a system by
which q court seeks to supervise, dts
cipline and reform Offenders without
branding them as prisoners ana with
out sentencing them to Jail or prison.
II Is intended especially for the young
or first offenders. II is used in all
kinds Of courts and for all sorts OF
offences. but It is perhaps Of reatest
Importance in the Juvenile court. Pro-
baton has been called tho right arm
OF the Juvenile court"
his piObdtioN law IN the STATE
was enacted IN 1901. Following the
enactment OF his law probation work
In the courts developed slowly and
irregularly throughout the State. A
special commission to study the work
was authorized by the Legislature of
1905: ten men and Jour women were
appointed on this commission by Gov.
Higgins. The commission made n
thorough inquiry and presented a re-
port the following year. Out Of its
work and recommendations grew the
present State Probation Commission
The commission was created by the
Legislature in 1907. Homer Folks has
been president Of the commission since
It's creation. Frank F.. Wade. another
Of the original Commissioners, is now.
vice-president. The other members
are Edward c. Blum OF BROOKLYN.
Edmond ]. Butler Of New York, Judge
Alphonso T, Clearwater OF Kingston
and DIR. John II. Finley. Commits
s!oner OF Education. The present sec
rotary OF the commission is Charles l..
Chute, who succeeded Arthur w.
'Towne In 1918.
Some OF the work the commission
has accomplished toward extending
and developing the probation system
IN the State is indicated by the follow
ing facts: When the commission
began It's work in 1907 there were
only thirty salaried probation officers
Throughout the State. To-day there
are 1874. Al the end OF 1907 there
were 1920 persons of all ages on pro-
baton. At the end OF 1914, there were
1895. Besides assisting in this
great extension, the commission has
constantly urged discrimination In the
selection Of cases n the all impor-
lance of careful and thorough work on
the part of probation officers.
The reports of the commission ex-
tending over seven years show that
more than 10 per cent. of all persons
placed on probation are reported by
the probation officers each year az
completing their terms OF probation
successfully and being discharged with
Improvement.
The cost of the State prisons, peni-
tentiaries, adult and juvenile reforma-
tories. FOR maintenance alone In 1918
was s~2,o92,3 $40. This takes no ac-
count of the vast sums expended in
lands, building and equipment and the
sums spent annually for repairs and
new construction. The average daily
population OF these institutions
throughout the year was 11.4l4, max
: ing the per capita cost for a years
confinement s20OS3. The entire es-
; timated cost Of the probation system
for the year 1913 was s253,675. This
> includes salaries paid to all probation
l officers, an estimate of their expenses
and the total appropriations to the
= State Probation Commission, which
amounted to only sl2,620. The aver
age number on probation throughout
, the year was S,4S5 persons. There
fore, the average per capita cost Of a
years probation was only s29.92, less
1 than ope-siXth of the average ex-
'pense for a years Imprisonment.
. Besides the saving to the State and
= the various localities in dollars and
= cents there is a greater saving. II of
= Tenders can ho safely allowed 10 re
$ main in society and continue as pro,
I ductive members thereof. society is
= relieved Of the burden Of supporting
their innocent vtves and children.