One of the most difficult problems that confronted the courts was the
disposition of minors, when the offense was so serious that the best
interests of society would be subserved by incarceration. Through an
arrangement with the superintendent of the workhouse, an unused wing
of the building was set apart for such offenders, and in this way they
were kept separate and apart from the old and hardened offender.
_6. Restitution._
The criminal code of Indiana is absolutely silent upon the question
of recovery for loss or damage to property and injuries to the person
growing out of criminal acts, except that in cases of malicious
trespass the court may fine a defendant a sum equal to twice the amount
of the property damaged. To fine a person double the value of the
property damaged and, because of his failure to pay the same, place the
additional burden on the citizen of supporting him in the workhouse or
jail seems in itself an absurdity.
As a part of the probation plan, the court required every person
charged with any offense involving the loss or damage to property
and injuries to the person to make full and complete restitution to
the injured party before the final disposition of the case. Upon a
proper showing that restitution has been made, the court was then in a
position to take such action as the other facts in the case justified.
Under this plan $7,166.83 in restitution money was recovered and paid
over to the proper parties.
_7. Separate Session for the Trial of Women._
To Amos W. Butler and Demarchus C. Brown, of the Board of State
Charities, was due the credit for the suggestion of a separate session
for the trial of women and girls. Acting upon this suggestion, the
court set apart Wednesday afternoon for the trial of such cases. To the
Local Council of Women was due the credit of putting the suggestion
into effect, by guaranteeing the expense of a woman probation officer
for the court. To make the separate trials of women and girls something
more than a perfunctory task an adequate system of investigating and
supervision was absolutely essential. Like all innovations connected
with matters pertaining to the work of the police, it was at first
looked upon as a fad, and predictions were freely made that the life
of the plan would be short because of the nature of the work and the
rapidity with which it must be discharged. But notwithstanding the
criticisms, it proved to be a sane and wholesome method of dealing with
the delinquent women of the city.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account