Evening star., 1934-09-11
MORE AIDES ASKED
BY JUDGE BENTLEY
IN JUVENILE COURT
Appropriation Request for
Next Year Lists Four
Assistants.
ADDITIONS SOUGHT
IN REORGANIZATION
Estimate Cites Fact That Many
Children Appearing Already
Have Records.

Appointment Of four additional pro-
baton officers for the District Juvenile
Court, a part of the plan of Judge
Fay Bentley to reorganize the pro-
baton and inquiry divisions of the
court, is asked in appropriation re-
quests for the next fiscal year, made
public today.
Miss Bentley revealed recently she
planned a comprehensive revamping
of the personnel of the court, in
move to place trained social workers
in charge of probation and inquiry
operations. These changes will be
perfected before the end of the cur
rent year, it Is stated in the budget
requests, and will involve abolition of
certain positions and changes in SAL
ary of others.
The additional changes sought in
the 1885 estimates are the employ
ment of two additional adult pro-
baton officers and two additional Of
flcers to conduct rehabilitation work
among children subject to court OBJ
servation. Judge Bentley believes this q
service can be improved in two days,
both anticipated" by employment of
the two additional officers and OBJ
tanning 'better qualified workers"
On July /, last, there were 1903 men
under the supervision of the two
adult probation officers of the court,
the statement emphasizes. Two addi-
tional adult officers are held to be
necessary ito permit even semblence
to probation" The 1908 men, it was
explained, are under orders to con-
tribute to the support of their chill
dren. 1t is In the interest of economy
to provide sufficient staff to see
such orders are obeyed and to pre-
vent the children from becoming pub
lie charges, Judge Bentley declared.
Many Children "Repeaters."
In support of the request for two
more probation officers for children,
Judge Bentley states SO per cent of all
children appearing before the court in
February, March and April of this
year had been previous offenders.
She said this was an indictment
against the present probation service.
The case load on the Juvenile pro-
baton officers, it was reported, aver
aged 70 cases each, or 20 more than
the maximum set as standard.
Juvenile Court seeks a total appro-
priation of SGT, ,440, as against $52,93s
for the present year. The court coll
lected last year sums totaling SIS, 400.
District Supreme Court officials are
seeking employment of three addi-
tional bailiffs to replace a similar
number dropped in 1894. A sum OF
$4,860 is involved. Appointment of
one additional probation officer also
is asked. An increase of $4,000 in
jury and witness fees is held necessary
to meet increased demands.
For repairs to the District Court
House $43, 900 is requested, as COM
pared with $4,000 for the present year.
Most of the sum is sought for repairs
to the roof and reconstruction of ele-
vators.
Other Court Requests.
The District Court of Appeals seeks
SOS, 900 for support and transportation
of convicts, as compared with 5000
granted for the present year. The
1884 fiscal year costs amounted to
$98,310. A sum of $4,000 is asked for
repairs to the Appeals Court building,
Police Court officials stressed the
need of an increase in funds for jury
and witness fees, 800 for next year
as compared with $4,000 for this
year. This is made necessary by In
creased demands for jury trials, 1t was
said.
A similar request was made by
Municipal Court officers, who seek
1920 for jury and witness fees, as
compared with $4,000 granted for this
year. The lower figure is wholly In
adequate, the judges reported, and
necessitates canceling of jury days to
avoid deficits. The estimates carry a
statement that the Municipal Court
has collected about $333, 900 since
1909.