Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1920-03-13
RECREANT JUVENILES

DID, presiding Understanding hearings and
rehearings, handles about $4,000 cases a
year. In addition to this, according to Mr..
Arnold, taking the year ending December,
1918, as an example, the court handled 81.
600 violators of the law, boys between the
ages of 10 and II years and girls between
the ages Of 10 and Is years, in cases that
did not primarily get into the court. Out
of this number 1900 were adjusted out of
court.
I'm other words that many boys and
girls were saved from court record. The
juvenile court has a preventive work. too.
1t is constructive instead Of seeking to tear
down, and if possible the cases are kept
out of court. It does not mean much to a
boy to have case in the juvenile court"
continued the judge 'as a rule, but we like
to prevent such record if possible as 10
or Is years from now man may be lead
ing citizen and there are always groups Of
people who look for something not praise
worthy in ones record and they like to
call attention to the fact that this man has
a court record TO many that means only
one thing-that he has a criminal record.
''The same is true Of 10000 cases in the
same year Of children who were dependent
because Of the neglect Of their parents. Of
that number we made thorough and care
full examination The court deals with the
family as the unit of society and not the in
dividual The COURT" said Judge Arnold,
''has been able to improve conditions in
homes, and, as result, the environment of
the child in over 5000 Of the 10000 cases.
''Personally" continued Judge Arnold,
81 do not believe in institutional training.
[ spend a great deal of time trying to i'm
press upto the parents to do the fair thing.
1t is better to work out the problem in the
home than to send the children to an in
stitution if this is possible. The children
sent to institutions become institutionalized
A fairly good home is a little better than
the best institution. Every child is en-
titled to home.
''There is a great deal in environment.
Many Of us do not understand the child's
problems Too often we are too apt to
condemn the child. This court is not trying
to punish anybody A problem is presented
and the court tries to find out what it is
and then makes efforts to work out solul-
ton that is practical. With reference to
that, anyone may get a better idea by
spending an hour in court and observing the
cases All the patience in the world is nee
essary. The court must impress the boys
with one great thing and that is that they
do not realize their own power.
IL try to impress and encourage them IN
theh view that they can, if they have aver
age intelligence and are ambitious go right
through and attain what they seek. [ try
to get them acquainted with themselves.
They do not realize that each has certain
functions to perform in the world and that
things do not work out right unless they
perform their part. Often it is necessary
to take boy into my chamber and work
ont q Dlan of procedure
"a lot Of my time is spent with parents,
although this court has no jurisdiction over
parents, some times with the children and
the parents together, and at other times the
children are dismissed and the parents are
talked to alone 1t is sometimes necessary
to change conditions in the home. When a
boy is put on probation, we do not require
the boy to come to the court. We 60 to his
home. We talk with the father the mother,
the sister, the brother. In this way the
court gets contact that cannot be had it
the boy is sent to court. The result is that
=, ,,onv oaCaS the DrOhatiOn officers and