PON SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT LINES from any other city, Philadelphia has at last established a Misdemeanants' Court. No longer are boys and girls over 16 to be treated exactly the same as adult offenders. Children up to 16 years of age are taken care of by the Juvenile branch under the provision of the act of 1903 creating the Juvenile Court, but the adolescents-from 16 to 21-were arraigned before magistrates and tried in Criminal Courts, exactly as had been done for years. No doubt the first impetus was given to the movement to create the Misdemeanants' Division in the Municipal Court by the fact that there was need of special treatment for immoral women. Hence arose the popular name of "Morals Court". After the plans began to take shape, however, it was felt that while the care of this special class of cases was very important, the numerous other cases of adolescent offenders, also needing special attention, should not be excluded. Co-operation between the Municipal Court and the Department of Public Safety was secured. A bill was drawn, passed by the Assembly, and finally approved by the Governor on June 17. The new court is already active, and has thus far considered three kinds of cases: 1. Incorrigible boys 16 to 21 years old. Each group requires special treatment and the emphasis of the Court is to be on the individual delinquent. Personal work, with a view to rehabilitating the offender as a useful citizen is to be the plan. The first group-incorrigible big boys-are first locked up for a period ranging from 24 hours to 3 days. This is found to have a salutary effect, and is omitted only under exceptional circumstances. The next step is to get the boy a job. For this purpose the Juvenile Court has an employment agency, which also acts for this division. Then the youth is put on probation under a male probation officer for one year. He reports to the officer one night a week during that period, and the officer visits the boy's home once every two weeks. At the end of the year, if all goes well, the boy will be discharged from probation, and should then be cured of his wayward or indolent habits. The second group consists of girls of the same general type. They are, for the most part, between the ages of 16 and 18. Their incorrigibility differs from the boys' in that the complaint is not so often idleness, or general insubordination to their parents, as going off with men for several days at a time. While there are, of course, other causes for which young girls are brought into court, this complaint is so frequent as to be the dominant one. Here great opportunities offer themselves for preventive work. Work is found for these girls. They are put on probation for one year under a woman probation officer, and are visited by her in their places of employment at frequent intervals. These visits are made in the day-time. Most of the girls are in domestic service, but some few work in laundries and factories. The third group is the saddest of all and the hardest to treat-the professional street-walker. This group may be subdivided into the hardened or confirmed cases with relatively long records, and the younger women to whom the life is new. The confirmed cases are sent to the House of Correction-as yet no treatment except incarceration has been developed. Every effort is made with the more hopeful cases, however. As disease-undermining both physical strength and moral stamina-often prevents them from taking up any other kind of work, the first constructive measure is medical. Examination is followed by treatment, when necessary, and once the physical health is restored, kindly and sympathetic intensive probation work will help the patient to find a new way of life. 19CITIZENS' BUSINESS AUG 10019 No. EFFICIENT AND SCIENTIFIC MAN- Issued weekly by the BUREAU OF MUNICIPAL RESEARCH Real Estate Trust Building, Philadelphia Aug. 5, Entered as Second-Class Matter June 7, 1913, at the Post Office at Playgrounds Closing!! The New York Public Library, 476 Fifth Ave., New York City The playground movement began under with men for several days at a time. While there are, of course, other causes for which young girls are brought into court, this complaint is so frequent as to be the dominant one. Here great opportunities offer themselves for preventive work. Work is found for these girls. They are put on probation for one year under a woman probation officer, and are visited by her in their places of employment at frequent intervals. These visits are made in the day-time. Most of the girls are in domestic service, but some few work in laundries and factories. The third group is the saddest of all and the hardest to treat the professional street-walker. This group may be subdivided into the hardened or confirmed cases with relatively long records, and the younger women to whom the life is new. The confirmed cases are sent to the House of Correction-as yet no treatment except incarceration has been developed. Every effort is made with the more hopeful cases, however. As disease-undermining both physical strength and moral stamina-often prevents them from taking up any other kind of work, the first constructive measure is medical. Examination is followed by treatment, when necessary, and once the physical health is restored, kindly and sympathetic intensive probation work will help the patient to find a new way of life. |