The Washington herald., 1921-02-07
Juvenile Court Justice Pleads for
Cooperation of D. c. Churches
In Handling Child Delinquents

Co-operation of Washington
shurches in furnishing big broth
ers" and s'big sisters" to replace
NE strong arm Of the law in look
ing ont Tor Juvenile delinauents
spon their release from probation
was urged by Judge Katherine Sell
lers Of the District Juvenile Court
before the Women's Christian Tenn
perance Union of the Fifteenth
Street Presbyterian Church yester-
day afternoon.
Judge Sellers believes in sentenc-
ing erring juveniles to terms at
Sunday School. Boys may not like
20 go to Sunday School," said the
Iudgc. but have yet to learn Of a
Ease where Sunday school hurt a
boy or girl"
In all cases of juvenile delinquen-
y where it is shown that no church
Ifiliation exists, Judge Sellers de-
.lared that an effort should be made
20 tie up the family with a church.
Church for Guidance.
Children released from proba-
lion should be turned over to
church organizations for guidance
when the restraining influence and
the moral support Of the jurisdic-
ton of the court is withdrawn"
said the judge.
u believe that churches should
furnish big brother or a big sis
tsE for every child released from
probation" she added.
Churches have responded readily
to the plea made by Judge Sellers
some time ago for assistance in
handling probationers and as a
matter Of fact the Juvenile Court
now has more proffers OF assistance
than it can accept, the judge said.
Asks Parental Interest.
In her explanation of the work
Of the Juvenile Court and in dis
cussing its problems. Judge Sellers
dweIt upon the obligation resting
upon the parents Of the District to
Rcquaint themselves with the ma
ture of its jurisdiction.
Pointing out the need for the
granting Of chancery jurisdiction to
the court by Congress, she explained
that at the pre- Mt time II is merely
a police court and that juvenile de-
linquents now brought before her
are arraigned as criminals often for
slight offenses, such as riding a bi-
rycle without a lantern after sun
set.
Trhe Judge declared that there
remains a great municipal work to
be done by civic organizations which
should be entirely out Of the hands
Of the government. 1t is here that
the churches may do a good work,
she declared. "A Presbyterian fam
lily in need, for example, should be
assisted by Presbyterians," she said,
rather than to have the assist stance
given by a large charitable organ
lzation. In this way the benehcia-
ries are not pauperlzed."
Court Aid to Parents.
Judge Sellers does not believe in
Furnishing the parent in ordinary
cases Of Juvenile delinquency, but
holds that in the case OF the av-
erage parent, the mere fact thai
he has had to come to court witt
his child is adequate punishment
''It is the aim Of probation to teach
the child that he must obey his
parents" she said.
Probation lists are crowded at the
present time, she said. declaring
that so per cent Of the Juvenile de.
1inquents Of the District are now
being put on probation, as agains
rs and 80 per cent a year ago.
Boys are a bigger problem thar
girls, especially in the case of e
boy about the age Of 16 who is left
with a widowed mother" said tn,
judge, and in such instances thu
church may prove of great assist
ance both to the court and to tht
community.
shows Optimism.
Despite the handicaps under whicl
the administration OF corrective jus
lice labors in the District of Colum