Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-24
WOULD ENLARGE WORK
OF JUVENILE COURT
Surveyors Propose Extending II,
jurisdiction in Cases Affect
ing Children.
MAKE THEM WARDS OF STATE
Proposed That Court BE Made One
of Record, and That Judge BE
Chosen by the General Assembly.
RiCkS'S Work l. Commended.

Richmonl's Juvenile and Domestic
hclations Court, as ii i now organized
is ending it's second year. having been
established January /. 1916. Its work
during the pas; twelve months has
been OF srea: value TO the city, accord
ing 10 the report OF the New York Bu
ycau of Municipal Research i'll its sur
vcy OF the municipal government. but
many suggestions for improving its
operation are made. Principal OF these
Recommendations are increased juris-
aiction OF the justice, making it court
Of record and the appointment OF addi-
1ional officers ana competent physi-
clan.
Before tho establishment o: this
court ali Juvenile cases were heard by
:he Police Justice. who Was assisted
in his deliberations by what was term
cd steering committee" composed OF
seven clcrgymen and one physician.
The powers and jurisdiction Of the
court are prescribed by the ordinance
of the Council creating IT. The survey
report says that the incumbent in oficc
OF justice, J. lioge Kicks. is a lawyer
and was. for a period OF four years
prior TO his election as judge, Il proba
ton officer 10 the juvenile branch OF
the Police Court. In addition 10 his
experience gained while serving as
probation officer and his legal training.
Justice Kicks has studied Juvenile pro-
cedurc and probation work in several
communities throughout the country
with established juvenile procedure.
thus making him cspec ALLY qualified
to st as a justice Of this court
WITHOUT ADEQUATE
JURISDICTION IN MANY CASES
This court exercises only such powers
as are delegated 70 it by the special
ordinance providing for its creation.
and is not i court OF record. For
his reason 1t has no final jurisdiction
n cases OF adults contributing 10 the
dcl;nquencics Of children whore the
crime involved is felony Under these
circumstances the bureau believes il
10 he without the necessary power 10
complete its jurisdiction in all juvenile
cases. since adult defendants must he
held for the grand jury OF the Hus
;ings Court.
"Bccausc OF this fact. not only is The
efficiency OF this most important trihu-
nal impaired. but what is even more
serious, the very intent Of the Juvenile
protection statutes is destroyed. be
cause the infant witnesses in such
cases are forced TO be unnecessarily eX-
posed upon trials in the higher courts.
and through this exposure mace to
bear part OF the punishment mcted out
10 the defendant.
"rhc city OF Richmond in the cstah-
lishmcnt Ut the Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court indicated the desire to
the citizens 10 surINlnd the delinquent
enid with ADEQUATE Actcction such rs
led jayenlS court; s. So i il filing 10
establish this court as Il court OF record
the state has failed TO oi'cr complete
protection TO the child VINO has hccu
wronGed. even through no fault OF it's
own, and il still leaves such q child
exposed 70 the atmosphere OF the Grim
Iual courts.
observations made in this court and
study of cases handled by the Judge
md his probation officers is sufficient
% convince the investigator that the
Legislature would make no mistake in
NeSting the justice Of this court with
equal powers 10 those enjoyed by the
Judges OF The court OF record. There
fore. il ~ recommended that the act be
80 amended as to establish tn" court -
y COUNT OF record"