Evening star., 1939-08-01
4 Case Workers
Do Work Of "a,
Report Shows
Juvenile Courts
Adult Department
Held Inadequate

Four case workers are doing the
work of "a in the adult department
of the Juvenile Court, according to
the report submitted by Judge Fay
l.. Bentley of the Juvenile Court to
President Roosevelt and made public
today.
In the report, the first submitted
in seven years, the United States
Children's Bureau and the National
Probation Association were quoted
as setting a standard for adequate
supervision Of so cases per worker.
In 1888, the report stated, total
of ! 1872 new cases had to be handled
by four probation officers. This
meant the case workers each were
responsible for 300 cases, not in
cluding the additional probation
cases carried over from previous
years.
considering only the new cases."
the report asserted, -four workers
were attempting to carry service on
a volume of work which in order. to
maintain a satisfactory standard of
service, needed "a workers"
The insufficiency of the staff is
repeatedly brought out through the
report. Elsewhere, statistics are
given as to the large number of cases
of ponsupport which were dismissed
or in which agreements were
reached upon the first court ap-
pearance.
Causes Inefficiency.
Here it is maintained that a large
amount of the time of the judge is
being taken up for functions other
than the judicial function and that
a large percentage of the cases
disposed of on the first court ap-
pearance could have been adjusted
without being presented to the
court.
IF sufficient staff were made pos
sible," the report stated, this ad-
justment work with complaints of
marital discord should be given
service and adjustment as each case
indicates rather than to invoke
legal action where the need is not
indicated"
The report further pointed out
that official court action not only
gives the father a criminal record
but tends frequently further to in
tensify the degree of marital dis
cord and Ito negate the good results
desired upon the individuals request
for service of the court"
Despite the limitations of the
staff, however, the report continued,
the money collected by the Juvenile
Court for the support of children
has increased from SCI, ,26792 in
1882 to $193,544.63 in 1888.
Covers 1892 1898 Period.
The report covers the fiscal
years 1882 to 1888 and includes only
one month, June, 1888, when the
new Juvenile Court law was in
operation.
While the number of adult cases
before the court had increased from
632 in 1882 to 1892 in 1888, the num-
ber of delinquent children in that
period had increased only from
1,139 to 1868. The number of de-
pendent children whose cases have
been handled by the court in the
same period increased from 327 to
1863.
Although delinquency cases against
boys far exceed similar cases against
rrirlc fHn Of Iirl Hro,,nl,f
into court on delinquency complaints
in Washington ranks far above the
average, according to figures from
the % Juvenile Court areas through
out the country reporting to the
Children's Bureau, the report pointed
out.
The reason for complaints is
markedly different as between boys
and girls, according to the report.
While A per cent of the complaints
against boys were for stealing, only
18 per cent of the girls were brought
in for this reason. On the other
hand, only 7 per cent of the boys
were brought into court for being
ungovernable or incorrigible,' while
this complaint was responsible for
IS per cent of the cases against girls.
Is and 16 Are Usual Ages.
Although more boys were brought
IN in their 10th year and more girls
in their 18th year, some very young
children have been taken into court.
The report explained that it has
been the aim of the intake depart
ment of the court to refer to other
agencies in the community, where
ever possible, complaints against
younger children to avoid court
records. However, "the lack of
other community facilities for treat
ment," the report added, made it
necessary to bring before the court
young boys in their seventh and
eighth years.
6 This lack of community facilities
Is repeatedly brought out in the re-
port.
I: 1T is the aim of the probation de-
partment to bring about adjust
rnents in the childs behaviour and
to coordinate the other community
facilities to the aid of the child in
order that this period of probation
need not be extended any longer
than is absolutely necessary to in
sure his protection and supervision
without the assistance of the agen-
cy," the report states in this con-
nection.
Lamentable Situation.
"The social work department
hnds very lamentable situation in
the community in that the great
lack of other community services to
children frequently necessitates
longer period of probation to assist
with number of family adjust
ments other than the problems of
the child for which he was originally
placed under supervision.
This same lack is mentioned as
q very obvious omission in the
child-care services of the COM
.munity'' in the cases of children
who return to their own homes