The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-06-17


systematic handling Of juvenile cases
in the municipal court, the County
Board at its meeting on Tuesday
afternoon voted unanimously to recon-
mend to the Hon. James E. Tully,
Judge of the municipal court, that one
day in each week he set aside for the
hearing of juvenile cases. 1t was de-
clared that the purpose Of the sugges-
tion would be to make it easier for
the county probation officer to get ac-
tion on work which she might have
on her calendar by providing for a
regular day in each week in which the
time of the court would be given over
entirely to hearing cases against young
offenders. 1t is said that plan Of
this sort has been followed with sue
cess in several of the courts Of this
nature in the country. Judge Tully
was not consulted by the board be-
fore the resolution was passed.
Hard to Work Out.
II am sorry that did not know that
the board was to consider the recon-
mendation," said Judge Tully. "The
plan may have some excellent things
i 4g It oe IL, l4t il vould he,s7erss
difficult to work out in this court.
Police officers who arrest girl on a
larceny charge would not want to hold
her in custody until the coming Of
the special day for the court hearing.
/ am not ready to say just what my
opinion of the recommendation will
be, but it is something that will re-
quire considerable thought. am deep
~ concerned with the idea Of handling
the cases in the juvenile branch with
view of making this court of greatest
value in protecting children from be-
coming criminals and in protecting
society against the criminal child The
program is one Of the most important
functions of the court and would not
like to pass on any set suggestions
until have fully considered it."
Police officers in Doubt.
Police officers did not take kindly
to the suggestion of handling all ju-
venile cases on single day. They
Saw lot objections. ct might be
that we would have to hold these
little boys for a whole week to await
a chance to have the cases disposed
Of" said one officer. "In most cases
where children are arrested the cases
are disposed Of just as rapidly as pos
sible and in most Of the cases the
children are parolled, either to the
county probation officer or to their
parents. Just think of father and
mother waiting for days to have a
boy charged with malicious mischief
in connection with breaking the win
dow in the neighbours home, to be dis
charged or parolled to him. The
present system gives quick hearings
of such cases and it would be hard
to improve upon it."
Plan Followed in Cities.
The plan of the Boys day" in
court is followed in many of the
larger cities and in some Of the cities
the whole time of whole court is
given over to the handling of the cases
against Juvenile offenders. OF course,
the number of the children who go
wrong in Kenosha county would prob
ably not be sufficient to warrant giv-
ing over the whole day of the court
a week The fact that the Juvenile
day" might interfere with the disposal
of other cases would not in any way
affect the decision Of the officials.
Tract Index Goes Over.
Decision on the tract index for the
county went back to the committee
and the committee retains full power
to act to install the index. The board
took no action in the matter other
than to adopt the resolution proposed
which gives the committee power to
employ experts to make an examina-
ton of the Tarbell tract index. 1t is
known that majority of the members
of the board would favor the purchase
of this index, or copy of it it is
could be shown that it would meet the
demands of the county and that the
cost to the county would be within
what the members of the board con-
siders a fair price. 1t has been sug-
gested that the county would save in
the neighborhood of $4,000 by max
ing such purchase. This would mean
that the copy of the Tarbell index
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