Evening star., 1926-11-18
PROBATION
CASES RECORDED
Judges Here More Sparing in
Extending CIemency-An-
nuaI Report by Officer.

The justices of the District Supreme
Court are exercising sparingly their
right to extend clemency to convicted
criminals by placing them on proba
ton, according to the report of Amos
A. Steele, probation officer of the
court. filed today with Chief Justice
Mccoy. The report discloses that the
percentage of persons placed on pro
baton from the number Of cases sub.
mitted to Probation officer Steele
during the fiscal year ending June 80
last was the smallest in the history
of the probation system in " dshing.
ton. While fewer probations were
granted, the report shows more per.
sons failed to live up to the terms of
probation and are wanted for viola
ton Of probation than in any previ.
GUS year.
Mr.. Steele has under his care PIT
probationers, of which 144 are white
males, Ill colored males, white
females and IS colored females. This
list does not include several hundred
husbands and fathers who are on pro-
baton for non-suppOrt of wives and
children. Mr.. Steele acts as trustee in
the latter cases and receives the pay
ments from the accused and trans
mits them to the various beneficiaries
During the past fiscal year he col.
lected and disbursed $62,79535 Mr..
Steele has been in the Office for II
years, and the total collections in
non-support cases in that time are
about 100000
Court Referred 48i Cases.
In the course of his report Mr..
Steele says:
During the past year the court
referred for investigation and report
a total Of 4S4 cases. against All for
the year ended June 80. 1925. OF the
cases referred last year, 1873 were
placed on probation, exclusive Of
those charged with non-support. This
compares with 230 placed on proba-
tion for the year 1925. The most
numerous offenses were joyridding,
housebreaking, grand larceny, forgery
end uttering, and assaults with
dangerous weapons.
Even with the great care exercised
by the court in extending probation,
the number of those wanted for viola
tion of their probation was greater
than in any previous year. This, OF
course, includes all probationers whose
restricted to those placed on probation
In any one year.
The records show that in previous
years the apparent percentage Of
those who were satisfactory while on
probation was about IS. 1t would be
impossible TO say just what the per-
centage has been for the last year,
but l regret to report that 1t was not
as high as In previous years.
Warrants Issued for 62.
Bench warrants were issued for 62
probation in one way or anther. OF
these ~ were returned and the pro-
baton Of 20 was revoked. These re-
Vocations were for violation of condi-
tions of probation In such matters as
failure to report to the probatint Of
ficer as directed; for establishing an
undoubted and In some case an undis-
puted record and reputation for general
misconuct and an utter breach of
faith with the court and the proba-
ton officer: for failure to make pay
ments as ordered In non-support ca ses,
and for subsequent offenses. ! wish to
speak of the splendid cooperation of
the Police Department in all matters
affecting our probationers, and also
of the United States marshal's Office
In apprehending and returning these
men.
'Probation as applied to adults is
not a cure-all. nor is it a panacea for
crime. 1t Is intended merely as an
agency Of aid to those who are most
deserving and who are willing and
anxious to help themselves"