The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-02-02
196 Juvenile Cases
 Disposed Of In 1884
Large MariOrity Boys Reveals Probation Officer in An-
 nuaI Report Problem Locally Increases

i AhtDp Huo DlhCkHlhll Uy AO~yehT~ old girl, were the most serious cases of the year.
 This years report discloses ap. prOximately the same conditions as those of last year. Seventy-hve per cent of the children referred were Tn the IF to 16 year age grouping. This condition confirms what have always contended to be the main job of every social service agency which has anything to do With the planning of leisure time programs. Boys and girls in this group must have their time outside Of school hours fully occupied in some worthwhile activity.
 Two outstanding facts about these children warrant attention: their total lack of religious upbringing and their Loneliness. In the first instance they answer readily enough the question. What is your religiOn?" But succeeding questions about attendance at re. hBiouS instruction, Sunday school, or religious services bring forth answers both surprising and dis turbing. It isn't that religion has failed in the lives of these chti. dren. It Is rather that due 10 the indifference of parents 1t has never been given q chance. The lone. Illness of spirit of these delinquent and neglected children is another one of their characteristics. Few or them belong to clubs or recrea- tional groups. These youngsters seem In their thoughts, to be run ming away from reality and are sometimes filled with terror which they do not understand. It takes time and patience to reach them before tired. worried, lined little faces become young and smiling again.
 Girl Problem
 The responsibilities of the proba. tlon oIhcer Increased from month to month. More and more time had to be found to talk with the chiI- | dren, Tor Interviewing parents and others who came for advice.
 The number of girls involved fin serious behavior problems is larger than last year and the chief cause Tor worry is their youth. Here too we find the need for the planning Of leisure time program that is stimulating, interesting and prac- tical. In tho majority of cases. these girls got into trouble be- cause the leisure they sought was unwholcsome in every respect,
 This year there are some sug- gestions which if followed out should be of value to members of the police department as well as to the probation officers department. l. Some way must be found oS curbing or stopping the bootblack pest. The days of the worthy bare. loot boy helping to assist the fam. fly are gone. We are confronted particularly on Saturday and Sum day by bands of rowing urchins whose actions have caused no end of complaints of stealing from stores, automobiles, and office buildings. Each complaint mentions boys with shoe boxes last seen in the vicinity. Mothers, who have been questioned, say that they re- ceive little or none of the money these boys earn. It is gambled awiy, shooting craps or in some other form of card game. Some of these boys may need money but certainly not the one of 15 I saw park his car. step out, pick up his shoe shine apparatus and set out to look for business. 2. Some way should be found to license bicycles. It takes almost the full time of two detectives to trace stoen bicycles. This, however, is not the major reason for suggesting this step. If boys stole bicycles merely to ride around we should not be 50 concerned. But we have iouho on many occasions q group | or youngsters who made stealing bicycles q business. They take them apart reassemble them, ~rcpaint l them and sell them. A small If. censc fee would protect the owner of the bicycle, save time of the. de. tectivcs in tracing them and most important of all discourage inc theft of m article which can easily | be Identified.
 Cooperating Agencies
 The members of the police de. partnent, particularly the detcc. | i've bureau. have saved the proba. ton oHcer much time and needless record copying. It has been my ex- pcrience that no matter how thor ough the investigation by the pro- patton officer may be. much valu. able information about the family Dacksround can only be obtained | through the aid of member of the bureau. These men know Wa terbury as patrolmcn and plain | clothes men. They, as well as the | oHlcer on post, can give informa. tion which might have been over. looked or never procured. have endeaVored to understand their problems and view point. In re- turn they have taken the yellow record sheet which forms the basis Of every case history in Juvenile court. They have studied 1t, and when they contact children who have been involved in either petty or serious behavior problems they have used the outline on this sheet In making a report of their inyes. tigations to me. In conclusion the help of the members of the dctec. tive bureau has been mine for the asking. It is my privilege and pleas ure to acknowledge 1t. Thanks Officials
 Peter DeCicco. Italian inter- preter of the city court. has been of much assistance in cases where speaking of foreign language was necessary. On many occasions he Aouno tiIHe m tnc evening to ac- company me to homes where con- filcts existed out of which serious consequences might rise. Without his help 1t would have been ncccs- sary to continue four cases over long periods. William M. Harris of Lincoln House has never failed when asked to assist in rehabilitating boys who can only be chased under the head ing of wayward minors. He gave work to six boys from 10 to IT years of age after I had contacted every other agency and failed to get assistance.
 At the end of each year find more reasons for being thankful for the generous and unfailing will ingness to advise and encourage children manifested by members of the Reciprocity and Quota clubs. ! Money from fhaaa nf.Un siza ftnna