Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-25
SECOND CHANCE
FOR OFFENDERS,
OFFICIALS THEORY
BY FAY STEVENSON
1OOnN


NEW YORK-When a young girl
or a young boy goes wrong / believe
in giving them another chance, even
if they are second offenders.
"When a man or woman has
been proved an old offender | be-
lieve it is in the blood and six
will not cure ths.s. To me they are
mentally deficient, and home, a
we'll regulated institution where
they can learn some useful occupa-
ton, is the only solution"
Sitting in her law office at No. 81
Chambers street, clad in a chestnut
brown tailored suit, with the same
Field, the only woman member of
the Criminal Bar association and
just RECENTLY elected president of
that organization, uttered this good
sense.
The Criminal Bar association was
organized about eight years ago by
Judge Rosalsky of General Sessions,
Mrs. Field has been q member only
two years and during that time has
obtained the consent of the board Of
estimate to permit the association to
hold it's meetings and to use perma-
prisoners rooms on the ground floor
of the Criminal Courts building
which are now known as the law
yers' rooms"
Chosen Head
In apprecia ton of this service, as
well as for her capabilities, Mrs.
Field was unanimously chosen as the
head of the association. She will de-
vote her entire term of office to up
lifting her status of the criminal
lawyer, upon whom there has been
the mere suggestion of an inclination
to put a slight as compared with
the lawyer who confines his work tC
civil cases.
"Then you have known cases
where the young girl or young boy
has made good after a second Of
fense,' [ asked Mrs. Field, land you
do not believe in branding youth?"
Youth is not formed in charac-
ter" said Mrs. Field, land so we
must give them several chances.
nave known young girls who have
been shoplifters, stolen money from
their employers and been arrested
for disorderly conduct many times
to finally turn out capable, splendid
women.
Il remember one case of little
girl who had been wronged when in
her fourteenth year. At sixteen she
was brought into court, charged
with disorderly conduct. 1t was her
first offense, so we let her off. Six
months later she was brought in
again on the same charge She was
sent away to a home, discharged in
due time, and several months later
again arrested on the same com
plant.
Il had a long talk with this girl
I tried to explain that she was not
branded with the letter "A and that
all life was open to her. New work
a sensible, fine woman, with a bank
account. She sends me postals every
week and frequently comes to see
me.
Boys Make Good
"This is also true with Maynard
pawned their mothers watches, stole
from their employers and relatives
and at times seemed so hard that
no human heart could reach them
to turn around just as if by magic
and take foremost places N the
world.
Usually 1 believe in some sort OF
confinement, either a prison or, bet
tiv til '' and for fdr the old offender ;
continued Mrs. Field, "but it is al
ways well to Investigate into the
instance, I remember the case of ar
old offender who had been in the
courts many times for petty thiev-
ing. The last time l had his case
I found out that he had sold some
furniture which had only been, in
trusted to him and did not belong
to him. l found out that he hac
| not for his own personal benefit
therefore 1 obtained permission tt
let him off upon an easy sentence
His wife came to me and fairly
| kissed the hem of my skirts. The
man took heart and for five years
his life has been unstained There
fore you see the criminal may b.
| Judged sometimes by the motive OF
| his crime or misdemeanor."
Mrs Field has many such cases
| to relate, and her constant though'
| and Summing up of each case make;
| one realize why she was elected
| president of the Criminal Bar asso
| citation.