THE JUVENILE COURT OF CHICAGO.
Has been in operation over one year, and it has rescued 1,250 children, three fourths of whom have been paroled and placed in charge of probation officers. It is against the law of Illinois to imprison, even in a police-station, any child under twelve years of age, before, during or after trial. In case of necessity the child is to be committed to some suitable institution. The purpose of the plan is to give a boy another chance in his own home under the oversight of a probation officer. The business of the officer is to establish relations of friendship with the boy’s parents, and with the boy himself, and to take pains to secure that the surroundings in which the boy is growing up shall be such as to minister to a decent life. This is another step in that probation system which has long succeeded so well in Massachusetts and which ought to be established in every State in the country. One interesting fact in connection with the workings of the Juvenile Court, is, that the Judge and the probation officers have learned that it is practically hopeless to expect satisfactory results where a boy is a confirmed cigarette-smoker.