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.