New Britain herald., 1919-10-08
PR0BAT|0NER FILES
 HIS ANNUAL REPORT
Interesting Figures in Paper Con-
 pleted by E. C. Connolly

The annual report of Probation Officer F. c. Connolly for the year ending September 30 has been com pleted and submitted to Judge James T. Meskill of the city and police courts In his report, MT. Connolly states that in many instances chronic drinkers have expressed happiness at the passing of the prohibition law and that it's coming is being felt for the better.
 During the year the number placed on probation was 347. S9,6S71O was collected for the families of proba- tioners and $2,011.73 was collected in fines. During the year just ended there has been a steady decrease in the number of juvenile arrests amounting to fifty per cent, which fact is an agreeable one.
 The report of the prObatiOner fol- lows:
 Number of probationers carried over from September 3O 1919, SS; placed on probation during the year, 346; total ABA; decrease from last year, II; made up as follows: 211 men, 17 women, 192 boys, IA girls.
 Number who observed terms and were released, 292; number who were
 
 1; number remaining on probation September 3O 1919, S6; total, ABA,
 Amount of wages and money col lected for support of wivesr families and children, s9,6s7.10; decrease from last year, $2,234.75.
 Amount of fines and costs collect ed, s2,011.73; increases of $261.63 over last year.
 Cash in bank received on unsettled accounts, $242.83.
 Number of superior court cases, 10; increase of over last year. Number of cases referred to officer by prosecuting attorney and others for investigation and possible settle ment out of court, 62; decrease of 30 from last year.
 Probation has been defined as "A system used by courts in suitable in stances to discipline or improve the 1 conduct and conditions of adult of- ] lenders or children without commit l ment to an institution, by releasing l them conditionally under the authori- ! tatiVe, helpful oversight of an official | known as the probation officer.' It 1 is a well tablished fact in the pro- | bation service that the best results are obtained when an officer avera ges l about fifty cases. Our court has been 1 handling from 80 to 100 during recent | years. It is interesting to note the 1 small number of probationers rear rested during the year and the de- crease in the mum Der of arrests and men placed on probation for drunk tnness. From all over our own and other states come thick and fast the good reports as to results of prohibit tion, although only the wartime measure is in effect and as yet, not being rigidly enforced, it is still pos sible for the chronic or confirm ed drinker to secure liquor. With a we'll enforced prohibition law the more hopeless cases of dipsomania and drinking men, will be eliminated and the officer have more time for the legitimate follow-up and constructive l social service work with the different and more responsive type cases, es- pecially among the young.
 Many of the chronic drinkers have been questioned by your officer as to their opinion of the prohibition law | and in almost every case the answer | was the same, Tt is a good thing. I am glad of it. Already it is notice- able that some of these fathers spend more of their time at home and are | beginning to discover the joy to be found in the home life and to as- 1 sume their responsibilities in the 1 solving of problems connected with l the training of their families. Moral l progress is always slow but given a | fair chance, the prohibition law will 1 vindicate itself and prove a source of 1 great blessing to our country at 1 large. despite all that is said to the