After four months of existence the Boston Newsboys’ Trial Board, though
still an experiment, is justifying its existence. A glance at its
nature and functions may be of interest.
It was formed to deal with newsboys under 14 years of age who were
charged with violation of the terms of their licenses. The licensing
of newsboys in Boston is entirely in the hands of the Boston School
Committee, and that body alone has power to revoke such license.
Therefore, under the former system, even after the offending newsboy,
with his parents, had been summoned before the juvenile court and the
heavy judicial machinery of complaint, summons, service, investigation,
hearing, and verdict had been brought to bear on a trivial offense,
before the boy’s license could be revoked the finding of the court had
to be reviewed and approved by the school committee. This procedure
took the boy away from school, took his parents from their work, cast a
stigma on the boy and his family for having been called to court, and
called for activities out of proportion to the offense.
The Trial Board, devised to meet these conditions, is composed of
five members—two adults, appointed by the school committee, and three
newsboys, elected by the licensed newsboys in the Boston schools. The
only connection between the court and the Boston Newsboys’ Club is that
the latter offers two rooms for sitting of the court, this circumstance
operating, of course, to bring the tribunal closer to the confidence of
the boys themselves. The court sits once a week—every Friday night at
7:30. An aggrieved newsboy has previously brought his case before the
clerk of the Trial Board, who calls it to the attention of the judges,
and if the case can be settled without formal procedure against the
accused, this is done. Otherwise, the court will hear the testimony
and render a verdict. In effect, the court can, by way of punishment,
revoke or suspend the license of a guilty newsboy. As a matter of fact,
it can only recommend to the school committee that such action be
taken, but such is the confidence of the committee in the court that
the recommendations of the latter are always carried out. In cases
where the offender defies the Trial Board, the latter can, of course,
always fall back on the police and the juvenile court.
The Trial Board thus has power to do everything which the juvenile
court may do to the offender, except to fine him. Special summonses,
warrants and other court papers have been formulated and printed for
the Board. It is not part of the legally constituted judicial machinery
of the city or state, yet its findings have all the weight of finality.
* * * * *
Since its organization ten years ago, the Prisoners’ Aid Association of
Washington, D. C., has benefited over 28,000 prisoners, 9,000 of whom
were returned to their homes. The records show that 90 per cent. of
those aided financially have returned every cent advanced to them by
the association, while the majority of the others were unable to repay
the association.
A recent report made by the parole officer of the Board of Public
Welfare of Kansas City, Mo., shows that 547 persons are paroled from
the workhouse and Leed’s Farm. These persons are earning an average of
$10 per week. All have been put at work except 70, and of these 20 are
too ill to be employed. The parole system is said to be saving the city
$392 a day.