The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-01-14
Judge Randall of Municipal
Court Finds New Parole
Plan Satisfactory.
THIRTY NOW OUT ON PAROLE

Judge 9. E. Randall confirms the re-
port sent out from Madison that juve-
nile probation is growing in this state,
and that this method of dealing with
youthful offenders is superceding the
older and harsher method of imprison-
lnent and punishment.
"The juvenile court-is doing lots of
good in keeping youthful offenders out
of the reformatories by means of the
probation system, +" said Judge Randall.
"Many parents of children, who come
in conflict with the law realize this and
are satisfied with the method of deal
ing with the offenses Probation is
proving up time / might say that
1t is also the time when youthful Of
fender is tested out, and if he makes
good, that is the end of the matter as
Ear as the law is concerned.
cat the present time we have about
thirty on probation. This includes mot
only defendants Of tender age, but old
or people who have been given this
chance to make good. That the system
Is working out advantageously is
shown by the fact that but very few
violate the conditions of their proba-
ton. In this connection it is we'll to
state that if child after his period of
probation expires and he fails to con-
itinue along the lines laid down during
the probation period, you can usually
trace it to his home or other immedi-
ate environments. 1t must be remem-
'bered that a child, who is on probation,
Is usually at an age when it has not
formed its habits of life, and parents
or guardians must do the part that pro-
baton officers perform while the child
ren are under their supervision.
"The purpose of probation is to Of
fer offenders, especially juveniles and
first offenders, the opportunity to re-
form instead Of being subjected to the
evil influences and disgrace of punish
ment. Tt is system of reformation
and is based on the ground that a dis
tinction exists between those who
violate the law from some immediate
cause, such as sudden impulse, and
those who violate it willfully."
According to records kept by au-
thorities the great increase in Juvenile
courts and the spread of the probation
system in recent years is traceable di-
rectly to certain facts revealed by
criminologists. The statistics of iails
and prisons in Europe and America
show that between Lightweight and
ninety per cent of the inmates began
their careers at or before adolescence
IL the tendencies of youthful offenders
had been controlled the number of Grim
inals could have been reduced to ten
or twelve per cent of the present
number.
Before the trial the probation officer
makes an investigation of the record,
home conditions, and environment of
the delinquent in order that the judge
may determine why he is guilty and
hat cause led to his delinquency.
"This preliminary investigation, ac-
cording to Judge Ryan, "should dis
close whether the child has ever been
in court before and, if so, upon what
charge and what the disposition was;
also whether he has been in an institu-
ton; the condition of the home, charac-
ter, habits and occupation of parents;
number and ages of other children and
their records as to delinquency; gen
eral character of the neighborhood
the child s habits and his reputation
among the neighbors; the character of
his associates; record of attendance;
scholarship and department. in school
physical and mental defects so far as
ascertainable and any other facts that
may be of use to the court or proba-
ton officer"
The facts disclosed by the investiga-
tion are embodied in a carefully pre-
pared report with conclusions and
recommendations and are presented to
the court at the trial. Occasionally
the officer may be called upon to supple
ment his report with oral testimony.
After the trial, it is the duty of the
probation officer to remedy as far as
possible the conditions revealed by his
investigation. Whenever necessary he
must endeavor to have physical defects
corrected, to improve home conditions,
to require regular school attendance, to
supervise recreation and suggest amuse-
ments, to regulate the choice of asso-
ciates, to help overcome bad habits
and tendencies, and to assist in secur-
ing suitable employment.
In Kenoshs county the probation of
fcers include Judge Randall, District
Attorney A. L. Drury, Chief of Police
o Hare and several of the members of
the bar.
ssCARVERp GRADE TROTTup