New Britain herald., 1923-07-14
PROBATION SYSTEM
 PROVES ITS WORTH
E. C. Connolly Tells of Construc.
 tive Results in This City

nelly, in presenting his annual repor
 to Judge Benjamin w. filling for tn,
 year ending June 80, 1923. tells O
 tho great work which Is being don,
 by means of the probation system ant
 calls to his attention the need of [
 new court room for New Britain.
 Statistics presented in the report
 show that IT cases were carried over
 from June 30. 1922. and that the mum.
 Der placed on probation during the
 year from July 1, 1922, to June SO
 1923, was 204 which made the total
 on probation 2S1, an increase of six
 over the corresponding previous per
 men, II women. 20 boys and three
 girls.
 Of this number 179 observed terms
 and were released, IF were re-arrest-
 cd and four escaped. There were 67
 men, three women, 10 boys and one
 girl remaining on probation at the end of June.
 The amount of wages and money collected for support of wives, fam flies and children totalled $6,3S5.5l; for the year ending June 30, 1922, it was $2,985.19. The amount of fines and costs collected was s4,2o5.o1, on June 30, 1922, it was $1,656.75. Cash in bank received on unsettled accounts totals s1,013.11.
 The report in part follows:
 Tt Is evident from the foregoing statistics that, with few exceptions, those who have been placed on pro-
 bation have lived up to their obliga- ton to the court, as the number of those rearrested and those who es- capped is small in comparison to the total number placed in my care. Most of the men and boys appreciate the fact that when placed on probation they are saved the stigma of jail sentence, have enjoyed their freedom, retained their places of employment and continued to help in the support of thsir families, thus saving their families from becoming objects of charity.
 "In noting the increased number of cases turned over to the officer for in vestigltion and possible settlement out of court, it is interesting to recall that this form of service was intro duced in the year 1909 by the Hon. George w. Klett, who was then pros- ecuting attorney. Each year since las continued to prove the wisdom of handling the cases in this way and the procedure is comparable only to that of a domestic relations court. The most sacred and intimate relations of domestic life and other problems which ought not be given publicity, | are laid bare to the officer. In the | majority of the cases it has been pos sible to so adjust and settle the diff ferences that the good name and dig nity of all concerned has been pre- served and reconciliations effected in cases where it almost seemed impos- sible. in fact would have been impos- | sible, if the trouble had been aired in | open court.
 Tt may not be amiss, in view of the fact that the board of police con- recently drew attention of those in authority to the need of a new court house, to quote from ths report of your officer in 1916, in ref crence to the same matter.
 "'We are still anxiously looking forward to the day when we shall have court house befitting city of the size, population and wealth of New Britain. As has been 80 often by others, the present building is antiquated, too small and unsuitable for a court house and is about large enough for Fire Dept. Co. No. 1, who now share t with the police department and city md police court.
 Women, children, and others laving business with the court should lot be compelled to come to such a in a locality unsuitable ow- ng to noise and odors, aside from having to pass through the police tation to reach the court and pro- ,ation officers room upstairs. II
 Tt often happens during a session f the court that business has to be suspended owing to the noise from the re department motor apparatus, assing railroad trains and wagons. his is especially the case in summer 1hen the windows have to be kept pen.
 Since that time the population has 1creased by many thousands, the Jerk of the court has offices in the ourt, and the need of a new and roper building is greater than ever. New Britain has been fortunate in 1e selection of judges and it is to be egretted that the city is losing the ervices of the Hon. George W. Klett ho for over two years has been the residing judge of this court and con ected with court in an official capa- ty for 2S years. "As probation officer I wish to lank Judge klett for the many cour- 'sies and aid given me during the Il ears I have been in the work and to ipress my appreciation of the sound II dgment displayed and humane way II
 which he handled the varied as- Il rtment of cases coming before the U ,urt. I "As in former years the success ,hieved in the probation work has HI ,en made possible by the cordial CO., 'eration of the judges and every of- ial of the court, police department HI i'd social agencies of the city, espe- HI ally the Welfare association and HI