Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-06


"Rcformatorirs and prisons arc needed to
some extent. There are some criminals Who'
for the good and peace OF community
should be punished. but III great many
cases these institutions but serve TO make
bad men out Of unfortunate young Offenders
and also make bad men worse.
''The average child can be reasoned with
instead of whipped. and 80 1t goes with IN"
average offender. Sometimes man brought
before the court is II victim OF CIRCUMSTANCES
which are absolutely beyond his control.
There are cases when man is the victim
of Il designing prosecutor. Not the regular
and dcspcrat" criminal. or. 1t may be lhat
Il crime is being committed for the first time.
Tie offender is sentenced to prison. For
many DAYS of the term he brOods over the
irony Of fate which lands him where he is
he resrntS his position. The child when
whipped is outwardly submissive but in
wardly rcbCllious.
FavOrs Another. Chance" Policy
'But place II man on probation. Give
him another chance and see what 1t does for
him.. He is free to 90 out into the world,
mnglo with his friends and at the same
time is getting assistance from the pr0ba
tion office which is decidedly helpful. If
there are cases when the man on probation
is sick and cannot pay his rent or needs
medical attention, an appeal is made to the
proper soriety to give the aid which he and
his family need.
"But, to quote Chief Justice Gibson, no
theory Of criminal procedure will ever pro-
ducc the results nationally desired until
crime j. dealt with by individual study and
treatment Of the offender, and the old, i'm
ncrsonaL mechanical and manfCstly inef-
fcctual method is abandoned. Society as
II whole is always interested in dealing out
thC prOpCr punishment whenever it is
needed. but at the same time innocent peO-
uIp nrc known to be accused of crimes, and
ihrrc have been cases when u trial Judge
has imposed a sentence of five years i'm
prlsonmcnt when one year would be Just
and proper punishment
.'It is a well established fart that most
Of our crime is undoubtedly due to the in
HucuCc and condition surrounding the young
blenders during the formative period Of
their lives. My experience has been tbat
cycrssiye punishment will not act as a
remedy
oyer the same period as it does with adults
from, three months to three years renortS
heing made each month. The probationrr is
given to understand that probation is not
merely an easy and convenient means of cs-
Gaping punishment for wrOngdoing. II is
iust os important for the success Of the nro.
hotion system that the offender of this class
he rrarrcsted for his violence as il is To holm
and encourage the prObatOncr when ne is
endeavorng to comply faithfully with the
conditions of his probation.
Probation Is Helpful
"But statistics prove that probation helms
Youthful offenders They are shamed and
will make an honest effort to do differently
and better. 1t also helps the adult offender'
Probation for the adult strives to build nm
a new character in the offender it gives hin
an opportunity to replace the criminal ideas
impulses and perverted habits, which he 40!
quires Through evil associates, to readinst
himself as useful and law abiding citizen
During the two years ending Novembar