CHARGES AGAINST PERSONS PLACED ON PROBATION The table which follows shows the reported charges against all adults placed on probation during the past year: CLASSIFICATION OF CHARGES AGAINST ADULTS PLACED ON PROBATION DURing the Year It is evident that the leading offense for which men are placed on probation is that of non-support. Twenty-seven per cent. of all cases were for this offense. Putting it another way, probation is found to be most applicable in cases where men are brought to court for failure to live up to their family obligations. The number and percentage of non-support cases increased somewhat as compared with the preceding year. Stealing in its various degrees is the second greatest cause for the use of probation among adults, considering petit larceny, grand larceny and burglary as grades of the same offense. Offenses against property bring more persons into court each year than any other causes and it is natural that a large number of these, in the majority of cases first offenders, should be given a chance to redeem themselves on probation. The next cause for the use of probation is disorderly conduct followed by public intoxication. These are more or less related offenses. The number of persons placed on probation for public intoxication, as compared with those placed in 1914, decreased from 15.4 per cent. of all cases to 11.3 per cent. If this means that fewer confirmed drunkards are being treated under probation and more by institutional care, these figures are encouraging. The subject of the treatment of persons addicted to the use of drink and drugs is discussed further on in this report. The leading charge in the cases of women placed on probation is prostitution. The number and percentage of cases placed for this offense is, however, considerably less than it was several years ago. The following table shows the charges in cases of children placed on probation. CLASSIFICATION OF CHARGES IN THE CASES OF CHILDREN PLACED ON PROBATION DURING THE YEAR Children may not be accused of crime in this State, but of juvenile delinquency only. The charges given above are, however, the correct description of the immediate acts or conditions which caused children to be placed on probation. From the above classification it is seen that the great cause for the use of probation among boys in the children's court is stealing. 45.5 per cent. of all the boys' cases were for the various grades of stealing. This is an increase over the percentage for the same offense last year which was 39 per cent. The principal charges in the girls' cases were improper guardianship and being disorderly and ungovernable. The charts which precede show the relative frequency of the more common charges in probation cases during the year. RESULTS OF PROBATION During the past year 17,734 persons of all ages were discharged from probation. In every case the Commission requires a report from the probation officer, giving his estimate of the result of probation. The following table gives the results so reported. ESTIMATED RESULTS IN ALL CASES PASSED FROM PROBATION DURING THE YEAR In addition to these figures, there were 8 persons (6 men and 2 women) who were transferred to probation officers in cities outside of New York State. Such transfers were as follows: 1 man from Albany county to New Jersey; 1 man from Erie county to New Jersey: 2 men from Erie County to Pennsylvania; 1 man from Erie county to Michigan; 1 man from Franklin county to Pennsylvania; 1 woman from Erie county to Pennsylvania; 1 woman from Plattsburg City to Vermont. The failures, those re-arrested and committed or escaping from oversight, are accurately given. The classification of those completing their probationary period as to whether they are discharged with or without improvement depends upon the probation officers' judgments. Omitting the cases where the final results were unknown or un-reported, there were 17,301 cases where the results were stated. These are given in the following table: |