APPENDIX C PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH SERIES OF NEW YORK CITY CONFERENCES ON PROBATION, HELD ON APRIL TWENTY-SECOND TO MAY SEVENTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN How the Probation Officer May Become a More Effective Aid to the Court: Address by Judge Edward Swann..... 142 Unemployment and Its Relation to Crime, Delinquency and Probation: Address by Walter L. Sears.. 149 General Discussion.... 153 Second Session: Probationary Treatment of Drink, Drugs and Other Injurious Habits: Work with Women and Girls: Address by Mrs. Mortimer Menken....... 194 General Discussion... Fifth Session: Family Problems: Address by Francis McLean....... Remarks by Frank L. Graves... General Discussion.... Sixth Session: Needs and Hindrances in the Development of Effective Probation Work: Address by Judge Louis D. Gibbs... Address by Arthur W. Towne... General Discussion..... (For full list of speakers, see General Index.) . 201 207 209 209 213 219 223 INTRODUCTION The fifth annual series of New York City Conferences on probation was held under the auspices of the State Probation Commission, beginning on April 22, 1915, and concluded on May 7, 1915. Six evening conferences were held in the City Hall. The meetings were well attended by the probation officers from all the courts of the city; also by a number of the judges and other persons interested in probation work. At the first and last sessions, this year for the first time, judges from the higher courts of the city appeared and delivered admirable addresses. Greater co-operation in arranging the meetings was brought about by the selection of a Committee of Arrangements composed of representative probation officers from the main divisions of the courts. This committee met with representatives of the State Probation Commission and agreed upon a program. The addresses presentede were extrmely practical and th discussion following was very animated and helpful. The addresses and discussions in part follow. The Commission believes that these meetings are of great value to the probation officers of New York City, affording practically the only opportunity of the year for the officers from all courts to meet and discuss exclusively the problems of their common work. Co-operation and mutual acquaintance are promoted by these meetings as in no other way. Unusual circumstances will make it inadvisable to hold the conferences in 1916, but the Commission intends to resume them in 1917 and will seek the co-operation of the probation officers and the judges in making arrangements therefor. PROGRAM THURSDAY, APRIL 22 GENERAL MEETING Remarks by the Chairman Paul Fuller, former Dean of Fordham University Law School. How the Probation Officer May Become a More Effective Aid to the Court Judge Edward Swann, of the Court of General Sessions. Unemployment and Its Relation to Crime, Delinquency and and Probation Walter L. Sears, Superintendent, New York City Public Employment Bureau. General discussion opened by probation officers: Alexander H. Kaminsky, Court of General Sessions; Theodore C. Trieper, Court of Special Sessions, Brooklyn; John J. Shanahan, Court of Special Sessions, Queens. FRIDAY, APRIL 23 ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION Probationary Treatment of Drink, Drug and Other Injurious Habits Sub-topics: 1. How can we best ascertain what an offender's real habits are? 2. How much do we really know of the habits and characters of our probationers? 3. How can we best keep informed as to our probationers' progress? 4. What causes the habit; how can we get at the causes and remove them? 5. Treatment that has most often succeeded; how can it be adapted to differing individuals? 6. What methods have brought about failures in certain cases? 7. Cases in which the co-operation of family, relatives, friends or other individuals has been secured and has been effective. 8. Cases in which the co-operation of societies and institutions has been secured and has been effective. 9. How much evidence is there of mental abnormality or deficiency? 10. What about liquor or drug cures ? 11. When is hospital or institutional treatment necessary? Leader: Timothy J. Shea, Agent, Brooklyn Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Speaker: Dr. Charles F. Stokes, Medical Director of the Board of Inebriety, New York City. Archibald J. Discussion opened by probation officers: McKinny, Magistrates' Courts, Second Division; George A. Daly, Court of Special Sessions, Bronx; George D. DeGennaro, Court of Special Sessions, Brooklyn; Patrick O'Reilley, Magistrates' Courts, Second Division. 1. Truancy the relation of the probation officer to the schools. 2. Employment-methods of securing employment for boys; what employments are suitable; what should be discouraged; what can the probation officer do in the field of vocational guidance? 3. Recreation beneficial and harmful - the supervision of school children after school and in the evening. What can be done about playing in the streets? 4. What can be done for school boys in the summer vacation? 5. What can be done with boys who steal? 6. The treatment of the sub-normal boy. 7. How can the co-operation of father, mother, other relatives and friends be best obtained? |