The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-08-30
PROBATION farm
FOR CITY NEEDED
Juvenile Delinquency Here As
Sumes Huge Proportions,
TRADES ARE ESSENTIAL
Occupations Should Be Taught
to Youthful Criminals,

Oklahoma City boys and girls
those who have a tendency toward
punishable pranks and petty crimes
feel those promptings more in the good
old summer time, il the juvenile court
records are a true index.
NJ. Il. Smith, bailiif specially as
signed to juvenile court work under
Judge W. II, Lwick, Is OF the opinion
that the prompting' are there all the
time, but that release from school
duties only gives more time for idle
hands to find mischief.
Never a day passes that complaints
are not made against juveniles, Some
times as many as twenty youngsters
are before the authorities in one "a.
hour period.
Children DEPRIVED.
The average citizen would not be-
lleve the depths OF depravity reached
by scores OF future citizens OF Okla
homa City, both boys and girls, ac-
cording to Bailiif Smith. He was Tor
four years a ~leputy sheriff and thought
he knew all there was to know about
crime and criminals. But when he took
up the work among Juveniles January
! of this year, he found that he had
much to learn in that line-and from
youthful teachers
"lf many of these young offenders
keep on at the rate they are now go
ing, and If crime among youths ,corl-
tinueS as at its present rate, | Shudder
to think what the future holds for the
next generation" he declared. "The
time TO take steps is now. The need
OF a regular county probation officer II
urgent. Under the present laws, Okla
homa county has no such officer. !
am a bailiff specially assigned by
Judge Zwick as juvenile couft Judge,
10 work in that department The last
legislature turned down a bill provid-
ing probation officers with wide pow
crs in counties of over 10000. But n
similar bill will be presented at the
next session. and 1t will be to Okla
homa's shame If 1t is not passed
City Farm Needed.
Conditions here arc such as 10 war
rant the city having an industrial farm
OF its own, according 10 the officer.
IF, instead OF voting large sums for
public parks bonds would be issued for
such an institution, it would repay the
municipality a thousand fold in max
ing good citizens of those who have
such a start on the downward path"
he declared. "If boys II and Is years
old could be sent to such an institution
after their first few ofienses and be
taught some trade that would fit them
TO earn their own way. the prisons and
reform schools Of the next generation
would have many vacant rooms. There
are hundreds OF boys right here IN
Oklahoma City, who. il they had half
a chance, might become useful citizens
As it is, many OF them, hungry and
idle, are driven to first the theft OF
small things, then larger, until they
become adopts in the arts Of crime"
Many OF the Complaints against youth
full offenders never CONT to trial. All
cases reported are investigated thor
oughly, and If it is a first o%ffenSe, or
If the misdemeanor is not great. the
culprit is let off with a severe repri-
manh and warned OF punishment that
will follow his next appearance.
1o2 Since January.
Since January J, when Mr.. Smith
took up the juvenile work, lO2 boys
and girls have been paroled by him
In that length OF time, there have been
in addition eighty-six cases of court
record, in which punishment has been
assessed. At least a hundred com
plants have been dismissed with repri-
mand in that time.
May was the big month in the parole
record, with twenty three, boys and
girls being given another chance at try
ing to be good June wa a light
month, with only six parolcd. July
shows twelve paroles, while August
thus far, has a record OF fifteen.
Petty thefts form the majority oil
complaints. Junk in its various forms
bicycle tires and automobile parts seen
to have a special attraction for the
young miscrean,s. Staying out late a.
night, and in many cases, all night, and
lettering in alleys bring many into the
clutches OF the law,
The majority OF these paroled arr
f..,ll,,I a., ,,,I,p,' ,t.,r ,H..LI,. %.