Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-03-09
RoBEEr S. BARRETT, President
and General Managcr.
JUVENILE LAWS
OF VIRGINIA.

The Gazette Il few days ago con-
tanned an article headed What Shall
We DO With Such Cases when re-
ference was made to the action OF
the Police Court in Danvile IN I'M
posing fine upon man Tor as
sauIting boy who had been annoy
ing him almost daily. The man had
sought relief from the parents OF
the boy as well as the police and the
ANNOYANCE continuing, he lost his
patience and whipped the offender.
i, WAS the object Of the Gazette To
follow this subject up and present
facts Of which most parents may be
a. ignorance. that is the present laws
of the state concerning juvenile oe-
iinoucnts. There arc no more tan
talizirg cases found upon the docket
&C notice courts than those OF chill
Ircn charged with miSdcmcanorS.
and Justices will. if they can, dis.
miss such actions in some way. II ny
80 doing they can maintain the d'g-
j,itv of the law. Imposition OF fines
has often been regarded as an lilog1-
cal procedure. as innocent people arc
thereby punished and the offender II
-, -r,,. rorrrci cd
The laws recently enacted by the
Legislature Of Virginia bring about
new departure in the disposition OF
cases against juveniles. and directs
nolicc courts to hold trials Of such
Youngsters in chambers and allow no
one to he present save court officer"
md those directly interested III the
cases. Fnrnalties must be aVoldc"
rs far as possible and every means
uscd 70 reform the child rather thar
punish him or der. In other words
the object of the law is not TO terrily
Tho offenders with court surroundings.
iut al the same time to make them
realize that they are in charge o.
,hc authorities. ard that their fu-
irrc department will have much :"
90 with the disposition OF their case
~ order that they may lead orderly
lives.
Such offenders will not bc arrest
ed and confined in station houses o.
;a;ls, as ordinary offenders. but thc'
narcnts or guardians will he re-
CURED no produce them III court ~
ordcr that their cases can he m
vcstigatcd.
The laws apply to ali offenders "h'
der eighteen years of age, and IL
cases where defiance may be snow!
G, no positive guarantees are giVci'
that they will not be guilty OF OF
rcrsivc conduct in future. such chi
Grcn may be turned over TO the
State Board OF Charities and Correc-
tions. who will place them in homes
institutions or in the most fragrant
cases i'm rcformatoricS.
The oficnscs for which Juvenile
max he unprecedented are many some
ri which arc violations OF state o.
,itv ordinances. incorrigih'lliy, nct-
s;stant truancy from school, aSSoc'"
,;on with vicious or immoral persons
growing up in idlencsS or cr'mr'
wandering about the streets in tn"
night time. use Of vile. obscene. vHi-
.,ar. profana CT indecent language
or such as may be guilty OF dl&So'"''
or immoral conduct.
\ section Of the law TO which cS'
attention is directed is ina
a.aa provides fine not exceeding
gv Haudrcd dollars or Imprisonment
: year or both for persons oNc'
I'LL. en- Years oil age WAC snail II
So. ay contribute to the Degenerate
- child under eighteen years o.
finishing toy firearms to chill
under twelve years Of age |:
~ forbidden. Parents ano
DIS often thoughtessly violate
law. 1t IS also Il misdcmeanol
EniSh minor under Is Years
5e cigarettes or tobacco. pistol,
Or bowie knives.
| above is published ior the be
OF parents and guardians w!r(
occasionally called il com, Il
fines :or Youngsters. Such vii
& hoped vie with the authorities i
aronin" as, lar as possible /,