Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-01
CASES ON INCREASE
IN JUVENILE COURTS
Virginia Welfare Report Also
Shows Growth of Domestic
Relations Business.
ny the Associated Press

ny the Associated Press
RICHMOND, va, January There
were increases in numbers of both
children and adults brought before the
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts
of Virginia in the fiscal year 1880, ac-
cording to the annual report of Frank
Bane, Virginia commissioner of public
welfare, made public today.
County courts for which statistics
were available handled 3,717 children,
SO per cent of whom were white. The
city courts had 6,136 children, 81 per
cent of whom ware white. There were
in all, 1858 boys and girls, "a per cent
of whom were charged with being de-
linouent, and the rest were dependent
or neglected Nineteen hundred and
ninety-seven children were placed on
probation, 865 committed to the State
Department of Public Welfare, and the
others were dismissed, fined or other
wise disposed of.
No Records Kept.
Many minor offenses such as truancy
were handled unof1cially by judges and
no records were kept One judge said
he meets people while driving along
the roads. stops and talks over their
problems, gives them directions or ad-
vice but makes no entry on his docket
book. In counties where there are
suparintendents of public welfare, they
act as probation officers and relieve the
Judge of a great deal OF detail work.
The county courts reported 2,878 adult
cases during the year One thousand
and seventy-six were charged with nom
support. They collected $57,6l6.33 IN
cash for the support of the wives and
children. This represents, the report
said, much work on the part OF the
county Judges, who are usually unpaid
or getting only a small salary from the
county board of supervisors.
The report added that this amount
was a substantial increase over last
year In spite of depression, and lack OF
employment.
The city courts, which usually have
full time judges and paid probation
officers. reported 4,587 adult cases. They
collected $685., 356.29 from persons
charged with non-support and placed
on probation. The total number OF
adult persons before the county and
city courts was 7,465.
Collections Exceed Expenses.
Mr.. Bane said all the Juvenile and
Domestic Relations Courts were doing
an enormous amount to prevent crime
and pauperism in their communities,
and that the work was being done at
little cost to the county or city. Their
collections. he said, amounted to f1ve
times their court expenses.
1.-The value of keeping these families
together and strengthening out the
dificulties of boy and girl offenders
cannot be measured in dollars and
cents" he said. 1.-The county judges
need especially the help of public
spirited citizens who are willing to take
q child into their homes, or act as
voluntary probation officers. The city
courts also need sympathetic under
standing and support by the taxpayers.
The report said that there were
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts
in all except three of the 100 counties
of the State, and that 81 cities and
three towns maintained such courts.
When the report was compiled SO
counties had reported their work of the
fiscal year, and there were estimates
of IA others. f