Evening star., 1934-11-07

vism among probationers than there
is among ex-prisoners.
1T occurs to me that there is one
legitimate method of evaluating the
success of probation. That is. by COM
pairing the results in rather general
way from one State to another. do
not think I shall find any dissent from
the statement that probation has de-
veloped to a greater extent in Massa-
chusetts than In any other State in
the country. ! should not hesitate to
put New York second. States like
wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and
New Jersey come later. y
Lacking in Many States.
1--WE know, of course, that many of
the southern and western States have
no organized or systematic probation
at all. For years Massachusetts, has
averaged four times as many people
on probation as in prison. The num-
ber on probation in New York at the
present time substantially exceeds
those who are in correctional insti-
tutions. The latest report of the Bu-
reau of the Census shows that the
average for the whole country OF the
number of persons per 100000 COM
mitted in State prisons and reforma-
tories in 1880 is 48.3 per cent. This
figure for Massachusetts, is 22.8 and
for New York 26.5.
"Our estimate Of the degree to
which we have succeeded in develop
ing modern standards in the way of
scope and method in probation will
depend upon the altitude of the goal
which we seek. and the determination
and perseverance of those who are
attempting to accomplish it. Fortu-
nately we have no dearth Of ideals.
BY and large the intelligent student
knows what he is after. Well trained
and clear sighted personnel, no arbi-
trary limitation upon the scope of
probationary activities, adequate ap-
preparations for salaries, travel and
equipment are among those ends to
which we all strive.
far short of the realization of these
ideals. We see judges in one State
resolutely and Stubbornly opposing the
adoption Of probationary methods. We
see another turning out trained pro-
baton workers to be replaced with
political appointments. We see those
frequent changes in personnel which
interfere with the continuity and
growth of probation in States like In
diana and Illinois, and always and
everywhere the continual battle of
nj ctv f<-- -
Sinews of war from their local legis-
latures.
Gain in so Years.
Notwithstanding these candid ad-
missions. one great gain has been
made in the so years of experience
with probation. 1t has taken hold
OF public imagination as no other
correctional device has ever done.
The press and the public have been
quick to realize its possibilities. They
have seen that it attempts correc-
tional discipline at the same time
preserving a normal attitude with,
by and toward the criminal. 1t
allows the play of the scientific
principles of social case work and
ITO uioIiFdIIls IMPULSES SQudEc WIFI
the demands of the Christian fellow
ship"
Nevertheless, Mr.. Bates reaches
this conclusion: 1.-The probation work
of the country will never be a COM
plete success until we remove it from
the domain of sentimentality, until
we dissociate the conception of
leniency from it. until we put it on
such an impartial, scientific and in
dependent basis that it becomes one
of the accepted procedures in So
ciety's battle against crime. Expert
ence is showing that it can be made
a deterrent in it's operation and yet
constructive in its use."