Der Nordstern. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1874-1931, 1922-12-21
editorial Section
THE COURT.


THE JUVENILE COURT.
The Juvenile court in this state IS a court that aeals VIII
children under Is years of age. In counties OF not more Unan
$4,000 population, the Judge Of probate acts as judge OF the
juvenile courts; in counties over that the district court con
ducts the business Of the juvenile court.
Its jurisdiction is not extended to all children under 10
wears. but only to those that have a status as being either,
A dependent child; or
A neglected child; or
A delinquent child.
T. matters not where the things occurred that make the
child other denendent, neglected or delinquent, any juvenile
court in whose county the child happens to be when II mas 1e
above status has jurisdiction to proceed against It.
The records and proceedings in this court are secret, and
no inspection is permitted, except by permission OF the court
srbe purpose of the court is to save as many OF the children
nndor IDS Jurisdiction as is possible, as it is realized more ana
more that child life is one of the costliest of our assets as a
civilized nation.
Denendent children, where the mother is a widow, and a
proper person, except for her poverty, to have the CUSTODY
of her children, are aided by awarding the mother some nnan-
cial aid. Others are committed to the state school at ovation
ma. where they become wards Of the state, and are placed IN
families, if possible, and often adopted. Neglected children
are taken from the parents and placed in the State school,
unless the Judge is satisfied that the neglect will be remedled.
Delinouent children present the hardest problem. Inc
causes of delinquency are varied. Sometimes home condl-
lions are bad, and there is no spirit OF cooperation on the
mart Of the parents. Sometimes because Of lack OF parental
control the child associates with vicious and evil companions.
IF conditions are such, or can be made such, that the child
can be left with it's parents, under some supervision, that rs
the most desirable disposition Of the case. 1t sometimes hap
pens that in that way not only is the child improved, but even
the other members of the family are influenced for the better.
IF it is not safe or proper to leave the child at home, or on
probation, then it is committed, if a girl, to the Home school
at Sank Centre, if a boy, to the Training school at BED Wing.
Neither of these places are penal institutions, but are correc-
tive and educational. Many Of the children are made over
into good boys and girls and restored to the social state with
a fair prospect Of becoming useful MEMBERS.
In dealing with these children, the courts find that no
hard and fast rules can be followed, and those Of the public
who are interested in the proceedings are often critical OF the
courts actions. But they must remember that there are no
two children alike, any more than two leaves on a tree are
alike, and that the circumstances of each case are different.
The court, after making a careful investigation into the facts
and circumstances of each particular. case, and studying the
child and it's home environment, must exercise Its best judg-
ment and determine whether to place the child on probation,
or commit it to a corrective institution. The aim should al
ways be to keep the child at home if it can be safely done,
and only commit it to an institution if there is no reasonable
chance to raise it outside.