The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-28
WOULD HAVE MODEL
CHHDREN'S COURT
Attorney General Gregory Points Out Fundamental Changes
Necessary in Handling Juvenile CourtsThe
Offending Child Not Criminal

Washington, Feb. e7.---With the
idea OF establishing in Washington a
juvenile court that shall be a model
for all Of the cities of the country. At
torney-General Gregory has transmit
ted to Congress the report of special
committee appointed by him to in
vestigate such courts in Washington.
The report embodies drafts Of legisla-
ton designed to carry out the reforms
which seem to be necessary.
The committee appointed by the
Attorney-General include Bernard
Flsxner, of Chicago. an expert on
laws relating to Juvenile courts; Miss
Julia Lathrop, chief of the Children's
Bureau: the Rev. William j. Kerby.
William III. Baldwin and Walter G..
Clephane. The following summary of
its conclusions relative to the needs
of modern Juvenile court was given
out at the Department of Justice to-
day:
''The report shows that the existing
legislation is strikingly out of harmony
with the modern movement touching
juvenile courts and suggests. that the
real function of the juvenile court Is
to he worked out. the traditions of the
criminal law must be abandoned and
new legislation should be enacted
iSslllG upon tiit Oibdd iiHtipiI Nhat
henceforth the child who finds his
way into court is not to be regarded
as criminal but rather as ward
of the nation, whose individual well
fare comedies with the weiibeing of
the state, and who is to be saved to it
rather than prosecuted by II.
Changes Uhild's Position.
1T Is suggs sted that the procedure
before the court be so changed that
The information and complaint of the
criminal law shall give way to posi-
ton merely stating the facts that
brings a child within the provisions
of the act that a summons should
supersedc warrant: that the child
be not arraigned, nor put upon his
oath. nor asked to plead guilty or not
guilty; but in lieu of all this that the
court should proceed to hear and de-
termine the case by taking testimony
end making inquiry into the habits.
surroundings and tendencies of the
child in order to render judgment
which lest conserve his welfare.
I'm the exercise of its order. the
court should he given ample power 70
reach the conditions that may have
brought the child into court and to
correct them to allow the child To
remain in his own home. subject II
he court deems Ii wise. to the vista
lion Of a proha ton officer; to place IL
~ some SNfttbfP npFUts either WIN
relatives or elsewhere to commit te
he board of children's guardians. or
any other agency willing to receive
II 10 the trairing schools
Not In Criminal Category.
Sin the proposed legislation the
COVER Is reserved in court to continue
its oversight and 10 pass the proper
orders for the continued wellbeing OF
he child.
I'm HOLDING it's hearings the cour.
should have power TO exclude the gem
raj pubic. admitting only those whs
bave q direct interest In the case II
- provided that while all records are
open 10 the inspection of the child a
.arents or representatives tnry may
lie held from .ndiscriminate public in1
pection No adjudication upon tho
.tAf rs OF any child shall operate as a
1tsuua liiicasior for jury duty or for
publsc office, and no child shall be
.ienomi at-d a criminal, hsssreasou o.:
sucfl conviction.