“Still in the future, but we trust not too far, Colorado should take the next important step and allow each penitentiary prisoner something for work done, so that it can either go toward assisting those depending on him, or be accumulated to his credit, in order that he may have at least a little with which to get out into the world of action and usefulness again. When that condition prevails, very much, if not all, of this association’s work will be accomplished; and its charitable force can be directed in some other channel of service.”
Though called in November, 1910, to take charge of the work of the Associated Charities of Denver, Colo., W. E. Collett has continued to act as general secretary of the prison association, serving in that capacity without pay.
THE PLEDGE AND OTHER WORK OF A CITY COURT
One of the features of the probation system, as practiced during the past year by Judge James A. Collins, of the City Court[2] of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been the required “taking of the pledge” in a number of cases of persons found guilty of drunkenness. In his annual report for 1910 Judge Collins says:
“In all cases of first offenders charged with being drunk and in those cases where the defendant had others dependent upon him for support, the court has made it a condition on withholding the judgment or suspending the sentence that the defendant take the pledge for a
period varying from six months to one year. At the close of the year one hundred and one persons had taken the pledge, and of this number all but ten had kept the same faithfully. Eighteen of these were women, of whom all but three are reported to have kept the pledge faithfully.”
Judge Collins has also set aside Wednesday afternoon exclusively for the hearing of the cases of women and girls. Since the law provided for no paid probation officers, and since it was desired that for the separate trials of women and girls there be an adequate system of investigation and supervision, the Local Council of Women guaranteed the expenses of a woman probation officer.
The court has instituted also a “missionary box,” into which is put all unclaimed money obtained in gambling raids. The funds so collected have been used to furnish transportation for runaway boys and girls, to provide necessaries for the destitute, and on several occasions to return veterans to the Soldiers’ Home at Marion or at Lafayette.
One operation of sterilization for degeneracy was performed during the year at the direction of the court.
Certain offenders have been allowed to pay their fines in installments.