Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-19
JUVENILE COURT HANDLES
CASES OF 265 CHILDREN
This Number Disposed OF in Three
Months, Ending on
March 81.
WORK IS ON THE INCREASE
Childrcn's Division Of Police Court
Has Passed Upon Cases OF 2,827
Young Offenders Since It's Found
ing In April, 1912.

The Juvenile divisions OF the Police
court disposed of the cases of 265 chill
dren In three months ending March 81
1918. or these children brought before
the court, ISL were male white. and
twenty-one female; while seventy ore
were colored males and twenty-five fe-
males. Since April .. 1912. when under
an ordinance OF the Council, Justice
John j. Crutchneld opened a special
session OF his court for Juvenile Of
Tenders. the startling total Of 2.G27
children have passed before this :ri-
bunal. In 1914 about 995 cases came
up, so TINT II the remaining months of
1915 bear out the opening. the court
VIII handle nearly 100 more cases this
year.
These figures on the growth and in
creased usefulness of the special ju-
venile division Of the Police Court have
been Issued by the Juvenile Protective
Society to show the urgent need for the
esta Adjustment OF the Juvenile and Do
mcstic Relations Court. The ordinance
creating such court has been recon-
mended by the Ordinance Committee of
the Council. and will receive I; second
hearing before the Finance Committee
on Tuesday night. 1t provides for the
establishment of the special court un-
der permissive law passed by the last
Legislature. 1t will involve no in
creased expense as the salaries will be
paid out of the funds already allotted
TO the Juvenile protective work in the
city annual appropriations. The pro-
posed court has been Endorsed by many
OF tho social service and corrective or
gRnization in Richmond.
LARGE NUMBER WAS
DISMISSED Or ADMONISHED
or the 265 cases recorded above. a
number were promptly dismissed. In
others the Offenders were admonish ed
and returned to the care of parents.
Some ninety-one have been placed on
probation. comprising sixty-eight white
boys. sixteen colored boys and seven
colored girls. The probation system
Is used for cases where the home sur
roundings are desirable. and the child
shows desire TO make good The
child Is supervised by the probation Of
ficer who requires him to attend school.
or II old enough to go to work. TO be
Off the streets carly each night and to
avoid bad company. He must report
TO the probation officer once n week for
four, six or twelve months or until re-
leased. The officer tries to interest
the child In the Boy Scouts. the Sunday
school. athletic club, or get Il man or
woman to help mold the youthful char
acter. Reports from parents and teach
ers Keep the court informed OF the
conduct of the prohationer.
In Richinond only small per cent
Oh PROBATION cases are ever rearrested
for other offenses The results of this
system In keeping young boys straight
and saving heavy criminal expenses to
the city and State are shown in the
typical instances of two white bows.
aged thirteen and fifteen. who broke
INTO a store and stole a large sum of
money This is n felony, and under
me old system the offenders would
nave been sent TO tho reformatory and
become charge on the State. Instead
theS were put on probation, and made
good. One boy worked at his trade, at
tended night school, and from all ap-
pcarances Will become a good citizen.
CHILDREN TAKEN FROM
CONTROL OF PARENTS
In the three months recorded. thirty
two children have been taken from the
control Of vicious parents, or from pro-
patton II that has failed, and sent to
the country. The right cnvironm ent
acter OF An apparently incorrigible
child. The child is committed to the
Juvenile Protective Society to the Chill
dren's Home Society. the State BOARD
or Charities or similar organization.
Ihey place the child In n home where
IL VIII have good Influences. training
ana discipline. and chance At school,
IN caaes where repeated trials OH pro-
baton have failed. and tho child Is too
old 20 be placed In private home, the
orender is sent TO an institution to be
placed under the strict disciplinc
needed for his control.
An effective part OF the Richmond
system for protecting Juvenile Offend
ers from the shame and dangers Of Jail
and open court is the Detention Home
at twelfth and Marshall Streets This
home is under an efficient mntron. Mrs.
hnr hitS 81
who asaiats In the management Of the
large boys Since January /, 1915,
eiShty-one children have entered the
home. The daily average is 1--WE or six
children. and the length of stay about
SIX days. The colOred wards OF the
court arc boarded with n colorcd fam
lily at sos North College Street
Virginta's laws provide that except
In aggravated cases no child shall he
sent to station house or Jail. Even in
is Just neglected or dependent, while
waiting TO go to the country or school,
Is kept in separate rooms from the
child who Is a real offender against the
law The purpose OF the system is to
keep tho child from evil influences and
so prevent the development OF crimi-
nails.
BAD HOME SURROUNDINGS
CHIEF CAUSE OF DELINQUENCY
The Richmond Juvenile protective
work hns shown that perhaps the chief
causc Of delinquency is bad home sur
roundlngs. where tho parent may be
simply weak and unable to control tho
child. or actually dissipated. vicious OF
immoral. Bad companions nre another
cause OF Juvenile mistaken Dime
novels. yellow magazines and the
wrong kind or moving pictures are
sources of vicious suggestions to the
childish mind.
Bad mental or physical conditions are
potent causes OF Juvenile crime. The
court has discovered that a large pei
cent OF cascs show decided lack of in
telligencc. No adequate State provision
has yet been made for these feeble
minded cases. In cases OF rhysica
disability the court has the child ex
amined by a phyaician, and II neccs
sary placed in n hospital for treatment
separate Juvenile Court, where thes,
neglected children can be handled will
tho care and study their condition de