Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-01

for q series of auto thefts.
The youngest Of the gang, d.
Q thrill from his joyriding with
the older boys. Although he still
had q chip on his shoulder, the
Judge placed him on probation,
partly because of his youth and
partly because he had no other
record Of trouble with the law.
Before D-J appeared In court.
. social worker. Mr.. R.. checked
his family and school back
ground. The boys father de-
serted the family six years ago.
D-J and his three brothers and
a sister lived with their mother
in the two-room apartment of
the mothers parents.
The aged grandparents were
not able to discipline D-J and
his mother. who worked at a
downtown department store, was
so much detected about her hus-
bands desertion that she didn't
understand or supervise her son,
Mr.. r. learned.
Became Frequent Truant
The gang Of older boys gave
! D-J q sense of stability and
participation which he failed to
get from his own family. To so
around with the gang, D-J was
often truant from school, Mr.. r.
discovered.
At his appearance in Juvenile
Court, the judge gave D-J the
conditions of his probation.
Attend school regularly-come
right home after school-don't
stay out late at night-keep reg
ular hours-ohey your mother
and your probation ofhcer-and
above all, don't get into any
more trouble.
Mr.. r., the same man who
checked DIS background was
assigned to be his probation
officer. This is customary because
the investigator who gives the
background report to the judge
can start probation work with
out going over the boys life
history again.
Got Start With Odd Jobs
D-J learned at his weekly con-
ferences with Mr.. r. that 1t was
up to him how long he would
be on probation. The judge gave
him an indefinite period on pro-
baton but successful probation
work for juveniles is usually over
In q year.
To pull D-J away from the
gang. Mr.. r. helped him find ode
jobs as a delivery boy. d.
learned how to dress neatly. how
to ask for a job and how to act
when he got a job.
Mr.. r. also helped channe
DIS leisure into the norma
recreation activities. The proba.
ton ofiicer encouraged D-J u
60 to local teen-age dances anC
to play baseball and basketball
on the nearby playground. D..
found he enjoyed these activities
and-to Mr.. RS surprise-eveI
began to 60 to church regularly
I'VE saw maturity developing
all the time" said Mr.. r. "H'
was developing a stronger per
sonality and didn't need the gam
any more"
Took Trade School Course
D-J decided he wanted to be [
garage mechanic and startet
studying at q trade school Will,
he did odd jobs at a service sta
ton.
With this evidence Of maturity
Mr.. r. decided D-J was read!
for dismissal from probation.
After hearing Mr.. RS report
the Judge complimented Dbl Of
his progress. warned him II
stay out Of trouble and wishes
him good luck. D-J and Mr.. r
walked out OF court with tn
satisfaction of a job well done
I'm probation work there l
o close bond between the pro
baton officer and the boy" salt
Mr.. r. II boy has no fathe
or o lackadaisical father. tn
boy quite naturally turns to tn
probation officer as a substitut
father.
OF course there are som
failures but Mr.. r. Is proud Q
those who never get into troubl
again. 'The growing up process
for boy in a city like this
q mighty hard business, he sale
He often gets phone calls fror
his boys or their parents tellin
Of job promotions or militar
enlistments.
Many Fine Example
Among the men formerly o
Juvenile probation are lawyer
Army officers, college student
truckdrivers. elevator operator
television performers. q profe,
sional boxer and school teacher
A probation officer has abol
90 cases at one time.
John J. Larkin. director Of SC
eial work at Juvenile Court, Sc,
probation as q vital part Of III
courts work.
I'm many cases our Job IL r,