The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1918-10-05
TELLS OF PROBATION WORK
CONTINUED from First page)

her and her chlldfen ana she wants
this stopped.
Another mother writes: "My little
girl is the smartest and best behaved
child in our school, but the teacher
has got it in for her and Furnishes
her every day or two for something
she did not do"
Two fathers claim that they each
have a -year-old son and these
boys run away from school and also
run away from home and that they
are unable to manage them and that
they want the juvenile court to take
these boys in charge. These two
boys were interviewed, also their
parents and teacher, by the proba-
ton officer and according to reports
have never missed day in school or
have not been outside their own
dooryards except on their road to and
from school for the past six weeks.
Another 14-year-old boy, who in
spite of the wishes of his parents,
teachers and the school board, refused
to 90 to school at all, stated that if
any one attempted to force him to go
to school that he would run away.
This boy was called on by the proba-
ton officer and according to reports
from his teacher has been in regular
attendance with good department
since that time.
Another Attitude
On the other hand, we find that in
the investigation of juvenile cases
when the parents are notified they
freely and frankly admit to every
charge and in many cases they inform
the officer that their child has grown
absolutely incorrigible and beyond
their control, and even go so far as
to insist upon the juvenile court TAX
ing the child into custody and making
such disposition of the case as may
seem in the judgment of the court
and juvenile officers proper and ex-
pedient.
In such cases it is now the policy
of the juvenile court to see to it
that such parents who express will
lingness to impose their children on
the court and society in general, pay
for the support and maintenance of
such children. Or in other words,
parents who have so little concern
as to the welfare of their children
should be compelled to pay some re-
sponsible person or institution for
their care, support and education.
The Juvenile Court
The juvenile court is department
counties where there are several
judges, there is one of these judges
selected each year to have charge and
hear all juvenile cases and according
to many Of these juvenile judges
they consider this department one of
the most important functions exer-
cised from the bench Unlike the
superior court. juvenile cases are in
variably heard in chambers with no
one present save and except those
directly interested and the court Of
ficers, and the doings and record of
such court is not public. 1t is not
the purpose of juvenile officers and
juvenile courts to mete out punish
ments in order that the defendant
law might be indicated, but on the
other hand it is the purpose of the
court to throw a protection around
the juvenile offender, always keep
ing in view the best interest and well
fare of the child and by so doing a
majority of boys and girls who have
gone somewhat wrong are given as
sistance by the court and its officers
to make amends for their past mis-
conduct.
A Friendly Warning
At a recent session of the juvenile
court, three boys were charged with
taking an automobile without the
knowledge or consent of the owner.
The court, after giving the boys
scathing lecture, temporarily suspend
ed sentence pending the future good
behavior of the boys; the court, how
ever, went on to say that in the fu-
ture such offenders would be severe
ly dealt with and that no excuse
would be taken, but the juvenile joy
riders would receive the maximum
punishment and be sent to the state
training school or the reformatory.
The probation officer then sent a
circular letter to all deputy sheriffs,
constables, justices Of the peace and
town marshals indicating the policy