Year: 1865

School.


1t is hereby enacted by the General As
sembly of the State Of Vermont.


Sec l There shall be established, as
hereafter provided, all institution for the
discipline, correction and reformation o
Juvenile offenders, to be called the Yer
mont Reform School, to which shall be
committed for discipline, correction ant
instruction, such persons not exceeding
eighteen years of age as it is by this bill
provided thus TO commit.


Sec 2. There shall be appointed an.
nually by the governor, by and with the
advise of the senate, a board of commits
sioners to consist of three members, one
Of their number to be designated as the
acting commissioner and the other two
advisory commissioners. The acting COM
missioner shall receive besides board for
himself and family, a salary of eight hun
dred dollars per annum to be paid quar-
terly, but no other fees, expenses Or per-
quisites whatever And the two advisory
commissioners shall receive three dollars
per diem, for the time actually employed
in the discharge of their duties, with
travelling expenses. The acting commits
sioner shall constantly reside upon the
state farm, and give his whole time to the
duties of his office. The whole board
shall meet, at least, once quarterly: but
no pay per diem, shall be paid to any adj
visory commissioner for more than fifty
days in any one year; and the salary and
pay per diem shall be paid out of the
treasury Of the state. on the order of the
auditor of accounts issued on the separate
certificates of the commissioners. The
said board of commissioners shall give
such bonds in any amount and with such
security as shall be approved by the gov
ernor, said bond to be deposited with the
state treasurer And in case of vacancy
occurring in said board from any cause. it
shall be filled by the governor by appoint
mcnt, and the persons 50 appointed shall
hold Office one year, or until others are
appointed.


Sec. 3. The said commissioners are
hereby authorized to purchase land. not
exceeding two hundred acres, nor less
than fifty acres, suitable for the site and
purposes of the said reform school. to be
called the state farm. and 50 located with
in the state us shall in their Judgment best
meet the wants and subServe the interests
lands shall not exceed six thousand dol
lars, Immediately upon the purchase OF
the said farm. and obtaining possession
thereof. the said board of commissioners
shall proceed to erect suitable buildings
thereon for the residence OF the acting
commissioner, and the reception and ac-
commolation of such male and female
youths as it is provided in this act to COM
nit to the reform school; or in case
buildings shall have been purchased with
the land, to put them in proper repair,
and fit them for the use and purposes of
the said schools. and if need be, erect
additional buildings. The buildings shall
be arranged for the complete separation OF
the sexes, and their separation shall be
strictly maintained


Sec 4 For the wages of assistants and
employees in said reform school, for salary
and per diem of commissioners, and for
fuel, food, raiment and education for the
inmates. for stock and implements of farm,
and furniture for the buildings for the
year ensuing, q sum not to exceed five
thousand dollars is hereby appropriated,
to be allowed by the auditor of accounts,
who shall draw his order on the treasurer,
in favor of the acting commissioner, on
his presenting proper vouchers OF eXpen
Ses so incurred.


Sec. ). Whenever any male or female
under the age of eighteen years, shall be
found guilty of any crime or otlense
against the laws of this state, the court
in its discretion shall have power to SEN
tence the respondent to the Vermont re-
form school, and the governor is hereby
authorized at his discretion to commute
the punishment of such convicts of the
age fixed in this act. as now are or hereaf-
ter may be sentenced to or confined in the
state prison or any county Jail; and re-
move them to said school. and the cost Of
such commitments and removals shall be
met in the same manner as is now provid-
ed by law for commitments to the state
prison; and the officer in charge of the
person 50 to be committed or removed.
shall retain him in custody, until he shal!
have received information from the acting
commissioner that there is room for the
person to be committed in said school


Sec. 6. In all cases when received.
said minors shall be under the control of
the authorities of the reform school, and
the said authorities shall at all times have
power to apprentice them at their dlscre-
ton, and it shall be their duty so to ap-
prentice them whenever suitable opportu
mites shall offer, and they shall Judge said
minors suitable persons to be so appen-
ticed.


Sec :. Any person that shall entice
any youth detained upon the state farm to
escape, or aid or abet him in escaping, or
shall after his escape. knowing him to be
fugitive from said state farm, harbor
him. shall on conviction thereof he deem
ed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined
in sum not exceeding one hundred dol
lars, or confined in the county Jail for a
period not exceeding three months, Or