Juvenile court law.

Section 1. This act shall be known as the "juvenile court law" and shall apply only to persons under the age of twenty-one years not now or hereafter inmates of a state institution.

For the purposes of this act, the words "dependent person" shall mean any person under the age of twenty-one years:

(1). Who is found begging, receiving or gathering alms, whether actually begging or under the pretext of selling or offering anything for sale; or (2). Who is found in any street, road or public place for the purpose of so begging, gathering or receiving alms; or

(3). Who is a vagrant; or

(4). Who is found wandering and not having any home, or any settled place of abode, or any proper guardianship, or any visible means of subsistence; or

(5). Who has no parent or guardian; or who has no parent or guardian willing to exercise, or capable of exercising, proper parental control; or (6). Who is destitute; or

(7). Whose home by reason of neglect, cruelty or depravity of his parents or either of them, or on the part of his guardian, or on the part of the person in whose custody or care he may be, is an unfit place for such person; or

(8). Who frequents the company of reputed criminals, vagrants or prostitutes; or

(9). Who is found living or being in any house of prostitution or assignation; or

(10). Who habitually visits, without parent or guardian, any billiard room or pool room, or any saloon, or place where any spirituous, vinous or malt liquors are sold, bartered or given away; or

(11). Who persistently refuses to obey the reasonable and proper orders or directions of his parents or guardian; or

(12). Who is incorrigible; that is, who is beyond the control and power of his parents, guardian or custodian by reason of the vicious conduct or nature of said person; or

(13). Whose father is dead or has abandoned his family or is an habitual drunkard, or whose father or mother does not provide for such person, and it appears that such person is destitute of a suitable home or of adequate means of obtaining an honest living, or who is in danger of being brought up to lead an idle and dissolute or immoral life; or where both parents of such person are dead, or the mother or father, if living, is unable to provide proper support and care of such person; or

(14). Who is an habitual truant within the meaning of an act entitled "An act to enforce the educational rights of children and providing penalties for the violation of said act," approved March 24, 1903, and any act or acts amending or suspending the same and who is not placed in a parental school under the provisions of said act, or who being over the age of fourteen years refuses to attend public or private school, as directed by his parents, duly authorized guardian or legal custodian; or

(15). Who habitually uses intoxicating liquor as a beverage or habitu

ally smokes cigarettes or who habitually uses opium, cocaine, morphine or other similar drug, without the direction of a competent physician; or (16). Who from any cause is in danger of growing up to lead an idle, dissolute, or immoral life.

The words "delinquent person" shall include any person under the age of twenty-one years who violates any law of this state, or any ordinance of any town, city, county or city and county of this state, defining crime.

Superior court to sit as juvenile court.

SEC. 2. The superior court in every county of this state shall exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this act, and, while sitting in the exercise of its said jurisdiction, shall be known and referred to as the "juvenile court," and is hereinafter so referred to. In counties having more than one judge of the superior court, the judges of such court shall from time to time designate one or more of their number whose duty it shall be to hear all cases coming under this act. In counties of the second class, such designation shall be made by the presiding judge. The orders and filings, if any, of the superior court, in all cases coming under the provisions of this act, shall be entered in a book to be kept for that purpose and known as the "juvenile court record," and the court when acting under this act shall be called the "juvenile court." All cases coming under the provisions of this act shall be heard at a special or separate session of the court, and no other matter shall be heard at such session, nor shall there be permitted to be present at such session any person on trial or awaiting trial, or under accusation of crime, who does not come under the provisions of this act.

Petition to court to deal with delinquent.

SEC. 3. Any person may file with the clerk of the superior court a petition showing that there is within the county, or residing within the county, a dependent or delinquent person, and praying that the superior court deal with such person as provided in this act. Such petition shall be verified and shall contain a statement of facts constituting such dependency or delinquency, as defined in section one of this act, and the names and residence, if known to petitioner, of the parents or guardian of said dependent or delinquent person. There shall be no fee for filing such petition.

Citation to appear.

SEC. 4. Upon the filing of the petition provided for in section three hereof, a citation shall issue, requiring the person or persons having the custody or control of the alleged dependent or delinquent person, or with whom such alleged dependent or delinquent person may be, to appear with said alleged dependent or delinquent person at a time and place stated in the citation. Service of such citation must be made at least twenty-four hours before the time stated therein for such appearance. The parents or guardian of said alleged dependent or delinquent person, if residing within the county in which the court sits, and if their places of residence be known to the petitioner, or if there be neither parent nor guardian so

residing, or if their places of residence be not known to petitioner, then some relative of said alleged dependent or delinquent person, if any there be residing within said county, and if his residence and relationship to such alleged dependent or delinquent person be known to petitioner, shall be notified of the proceedings by service of citation requiring him or them to appear at the time and place stated in such citation. In any case the judge may appoint some suitable person to act in behalf of said alleged dependent or delinquent person, and may order such further notice of the proceedings to be given as he may deem proper. If any person, cited as herein provided, shall fail, without reasonable cause, to appear and abide by the order of the court, or to bring said alleged dependent or delinquent person, if so required in the citation, such failure shall constitute aˇcontempt of said court and may be punished as provided for in other cases of contempt of court. In case such citation can not be served, or the party served fails to obey the same, and in any case in which it shall be made to appear to the court that such citation will probably be ineffective, a warrant of arrest shall issue on the order of the court, either against the parent or guardian, or the person having the custody of said alleged dependent or delinquent person, or with whom the said alleged dependent or delinquent person may be, or against the said alleged dependent or delinquent person himself, or any or all said persons; or if there be no person to be served with citation as above provided, a warrant of arrest may be issued against the said alleged dependent or delinquent person immediately. On the return of the citation or other process, or as soon thereafter as may be, the court shall proceed to hear and dispose of the Until the final disposition of any case, the case in a summary manner. said alleged dependent or delinquent person may be retained in the possession of the person having.charge of said person, or may be kept, upon the order of the court, in some suitable place, provided by the county, or city and county, or may be held otherwise as the court may direct. Commitment of delinquents.

SEC. 5. When any alleged dependent or delinquent person under the age of twenty-one years shall be found by said court or judge to be dependent or delinquent, within the meaning of this act, the court may make an order committing said dependent or delinquent person, for such time as the court may deem fit, but not beyond the time when such dependent or delinquent person shall reach the age of twenty-one years, to the care of some reputable person of good moral character, or to the care of some association, society or corporation willing to receive it, embracing in its objects the purpose of caring for or obtaining homes for dependent or neglected children, or to the care of the probation officer or other person to remain in the home of said dependent or delinquent person; or the court may, if said dependent or delinquent person be a boy, commit him to the Preston State School of Industry, or to the Whittier State School, during his minority, or if a girl, commit her to the Whittier State School until twenty-one years of age; provided, however, that before conveying any such dependent or delinquent person to either of such institutions it shall be ascertained from the superintendent thereof whether such

dependent or delinquent person can be received, and if such dependent or delinquent person can not be received, the court shall make such other order for the disposition of such dependent or delinquent person as is meet. After making any of the above mentioned orders the court may, from time to time, change or modify the same, or set aside the same, or commit such dependent or delinquent person to such place or institution, and for such time, as the court may deem fit, but not beyond the time when such person shall attain the age of twenty-one years.

Probation committee.

SEC. 6. The judge of the superior court in and for each county, or city and county, of the state, and in counties where there is more than one judge of the said court, the judge who has been designated as "judge of the juvenile court" shall, by an order entered in the minutes of the court, appoint seven discreet citizens of good moral character and of either sex, to be known as the "probation committee," and shall fill all vacancies occurring in such committee. The clerk of said court shall immediately notify each person appointed on said committee and thereupon said persons shall appear before the judge of the superior court to whom has been assigned all proceedings under this act, and qualify by taking an oath, which shall be entered in said juvenile court record, to faithfully perform the duties of a member of such probation committee.

Term of office.

SEC. 7. The members of such probation committee shall hold office for four years, and until their successors are appointed and qualify; provided, that of those first appointed, one shall hold office for one year, two for two years, two for three years, and two for four years, the terms for which the respective members shall hold office to be determined by lot as soon after their appointment as may be. When any vacancy occurs in any probation committee by expiration of the term of office of any member thereof, his successor shall be appointed to hold office for the term of four years; when any vacancy occurs for any other reason, the appointee shall hold office for the unexpired term of his predecessor.

Examination of societies.

SEC. 8. The juvenile court or the judge thereof may at any time require said probation committee or probation officer to examine into the qualifications and management of any society, association or corporation, other than a state institution, receiving, or applying for, any dependent or delinquent person under this act, and to report thereon to the court. It shall be the duty of each probation committee to prepare each year one or more reports in writing on the qualifications and management of all societies, associations and corporations, except state institutions, applying for or receiving any dependent or delinquent person under this act from the courts of their respective counties, and in such report said committee may make such suggestions or comments as to them may seem fit; such report to be filed in the office of the clerk of the court appointing such committee for the information of the court. The probation committee shall also

make to the court an annual report to be filed prior to the first day of December. It shall be the duty of the probation committee to exercise a friendly supervision and visitation over the dependent or delinquent person in accordance with the direction of the court, to furnish the court information and assistance whenever required, and, from time to time, to advise and recommend to the court any change or modification of the order made in the case of a dependent or delinquent person as may be for the best interests of such person. Upon request of the probation officer, any member of the probation committee shall investigate an alleged case coming under the provisions of this act, and render a report thereon to the probation officer. The probation committee shall also have the control and management of the internal affairs of any detention home heretofore or hereafter established by the board of supervisors of their county; and it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors to provide for the payment of such employees as may be needed in the efficient management of such detention home.

Compensation and expenses of committee.

SEC. 9. Members of the probation committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be allowed their reasonable traveling expenses as approved by the judge of the juvenile court; and the same shall be a charge upon the county in which the court appointing them has jurisdiction, and said expenses shall be paid out of the county treasury upon a written order of the judge of the juvenile court of said county directing the county auditor to draw his warrant upon the county treasurer for the specified amount of such expenses.

Probation officer.

SEC. 10. There shall be appointed, as hereinafter provided, a probation officer in every county, and he may appoint as many deputies as he may desire; provided, however, that such deputies shall not have authority to act until their appointment shall be approved in like manner as the appointment of the probation officer himself. Such deputies, except as hereinafter provided, shall serve without compensation.

Salaries.

Section 10a. In counties of the first class there shall be one probation officer and nineteen assistant probation officers. The salaries of said officers shall be as follows: Probation officer, two hundred dollars per month; two assistant probation officers, one hundred and fifty dollars per month, each; sixteen assistant probation officers, one hundred dollars per month, each; one probation officers' clerk at a salary of seventy-five dollars per month.

Section 106. In counties, or cities and counties, of the second_class there shall be one probation officer and ten assistant probation officers. The salaries of said officers shall be as follows: Probation officer, two hundred and twenty-five dollars per month; one assistant probation officer, one hundred and seventy-five dollars per month; and nine assistant probation officers, at one hundred and twenty-five dollars per month each. Section 10c. In counties of the third class there shall be one

probation