The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-10-29
The Delinquency Problem

IN general way mere Is aSIeeHteAI oe'"Sei
the City Council and the County Board on the
judicial phase of dealing with juvenile delln
quency. That is to say, there is no dispute over
the need for the juvenile court, or courts, and
an adequate corps of probation officers. There
is some discussion as to whether there should
be one court for the county and another for
the city. as at present, or whether the two
should be consolidated, but this appears to
be more of a technical matter than otherwise,
and there should be no serious difficulty in
reaching a harmonious settlement.
But there has been a wide divergence OF
opinion between the two governmental bodies
concerning responsibility for the detention
home, its operation and supervision. This is
serious but is temporarily relieved by the
decision of the County Board to improve the
present home physically and make some, as
yet undetermined, provision for supervision.
Granting that detention is the least OF all
aspects of juvenile delinquency, it is essential
that quarters be provided for holding delin-
quents until their cases can be disposed OF,
and that these quarters shall be adequate both
from a moral and a hygienic viewpoint and
that they be in an environment favorable to
the reform of youngsters at odds with the law
This has not been the record at the present
home, which has lacked supervision, is in
bad state Of repair, lily furnished, and locat-
ed at the county farm.
Children committed to it have been left to
laos ~ ft,oir
activities has been to tear the place to pieces
as fast as minor repairs were made.
Earlier this week four boys, one eight, one
mine one fourteen and the fourth fifteen
years of age, were repeatedly confined in a
single room containing but two single cots
with thin pallets for mattresses and INSULT
cient bedding. In another room was a girl
twelve or thirteen, scarcely better than an
idiot, who should be under doctors care.
These cases are cited to show how far below
par is the detention home
The County Board has made a definite ef-
fort to secure better location, but without
success and to its credit be it said that at
conference between special committees of the
Council and the Board it was finally determ-
med that, lacking a suitable site, the present
plant will be repaired and refurnished and
the building and inmates given the supervision
they have lacked in the past The County Board
has definitely accepted its responsibility.
But, as noted above, this is at best an ex-
pedient and will not permanently solve the
county's juvenile delinquency problem.
This problem cannot near solution until ade
quate machinery is set up, in the operation of
which detention will be minor factor and
by a staff of probation officers
operating under authority of the juvenile
court is at work. The place to deal with delin
luency among youngsters is in the home and
On the streets. More good can be accomplish
ed by what may be called the big-brother &C.
[lvltles OF probation officers, and in shorter
time, than through confinement.
1t is in order for the Council and the Board
to reach decision regarding separate or Joint
responsibility for this machinery through their
respective legal advisors, without loss of time
IN order that youth within the county's borders
(including the City Of Wilmington may have a
[alr break when they get into trouble and
reasonable chance to make good Particularly
is 1t in order that boys and girls who do wrong
shall not be dragged to police Headquarters
and subjected to harsh questioning.
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