ITHACA During the year the woman police officer of the city was desig nated probation officer by the city authorities and has been doing effective probation work in the Ithaca Police Court. CHEMUNG COUNTY The question of a county probation officer was taken up during the year with county officials, after an investigation. Such officer is greatly needed. The matter is still pending. CLINTON COUNTY The county probation officer has carried on extensive work in the higher courts in the city of Plattsburg and in the towns and villages. Twenty-three cases were received from the justices of the peace in nine towns. CORTLAND COUNTY Much rural work has been done by the county probation officer in this county. The number of cases received during the year from justices of the peace was 52 as compared with 18 during the previous year. Cases were received from 9 towns. DELAWARE COUNTY Provision for a county probation officer was taken up with the board of supervisors, but no action has yet been taken. The work of the volunteer county probation officer is being continued. DUTCHESS COUNTY The county pays an adequate salary to its officer and the work has been developed throughout the county. The number of cases received on probation from the higher courts increased from 4 in 1914 to 32 in 1915. The number of cases received from the courts of towns and villages increased from 29 to 84 during last year. The rural work has been developed considerably, cases being received from the justices of the peace in eleven different towns. This officer makes his rounds in an automobile and is in a position to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of a county probation system, especially as applied to the rural districts. A complete system of financial records and blanks has been installed during the past year. ERIE COUNTY During the year a new Polish-speaking male probation officer was employed. The staff for the office now consists of the chief probation officer, five male probation officers and one woman officer, the largest staff for any county office. During the past year 42 per cent. of all cases tried in the Supreme and County Courts were placed on probation. Practically every case receives a thorough investigation before probation is used. The case study of 21 men, already referred to, which was conducted last summer, 81 per cent., from one to three years after their discharge from probation, were found to be re-established in society and making good. A complete report of this investigation is given in Appendix F. MONROE COUNTY An investigation of the work of the County Children's Court was made early in the fall by the secretary, the assistant secretary having previously investigated the needs in certain villages of the county. In the Children's Court Judge Stephens gives all cases brought before him careful attention. The court has an excellent staff of probation officers, a man and two women, who are able to do intensive work. An investigation was begun by the Commission as to the result of the work of the court upon delinquency in the rural districts, but was not continued, as a special investigation under an appropriation from the Federal Children's Bureau was begun late in the fall by an investigator from the New York School of Philanthropy. This investigation is not yet completed. It appears, however, that there is need for greater co-ordination between the work of the Children's Court, the justices of the peace, the police, the school authorities and others in the towns and villages. Only 4.2 per cent. of the cases handled by the court during the past year resided outside the city of Rochester, the percentage of the population of the county residing without the city limits being 22.2. In spite of these criticisms, the Commission has been strongly in favor of the county Children's Court plan and believes that on the whole it has proven its effectiveness. MONTGOMERY COUNTY The Commission assisted in securing an increase in salary for the county probation officer and has sent out letters and literature to the justices of the peace and endeavored to secure the extension of this service in the rural districts. NASSAU COUNTY The secretary has interviewed persons interested in obtaining county probation service and has endeavored to secure action by the board of supervisors. Thus far the only result has been the appointment of a committee by the Nassau County Association and the securing of several volunteer probation officers to serve in a number of the villages. There is much need for salaried county probation officers in this county with its many large villages and suburban conditions. NIAGARA COUNTY Following a civil service examination in January, in which the Commission assisted, the first man on the list was appointed county probation officer. He has taken up the work with great energy and its growth has been truly remarkable. At the close of the year this officer had under his care 108 probationers. He had collected during his first ten months of service $3,133.45 for fines, family support and for restitution. He has received cases from county and Supreme Courts and from the courts of the three cities of the county, Niagara Falls, Lockport and North Tonawanda. Officers have been established in each city where probationers may report. The establishment of this office and the use of probation in many cases which would otherwise have been sent to jail has, in the opinion of the officials of the county, produced a remarkable decrease in the number of persons confined in the county jail. On January 1, 1915, there was 135 inmates. The average number confined in the jail at all times during the three years previous had been exactly 100. Upon the establishment of a county probation officer in March the jail population immediately began to decrease. On January 1, 1916, the number had decreased to 68, almost exactly one-half of what it had been one year before. The decrease appears to be largely due to the establishment of a probation system in the county. ONONDAGA COUNTY The work of both county probation officers has developed during the past year. The officer employed for work in the courts of towns and villages has received 34 cases from justices of the peace in 6 towns. He has made use of volunteer helpers in various villages, thus keeping in closer touch with his cases residing at a distance from Syracuse. ONTARIO COUNTY A recent investigation of the work of the County Court, Children's part, showed that since the establishment of the court on September 1, 1913, to December 1, 1915, a period of two years and three months, 85 children's cases have been placed on probation. Of these, 67 were residents of the two cities of Canandaigua and Geneva and the remainder, 18, were from the towns and villages. The court has sat in each of the two cities, though infrequently at Geneva. There is the same need that appears to exist in Monroe county, though to a somewhat lesser extent, that the work of the Children's Court be co-ordinated with the work of local courts, police, school officials and others, especially in the towns and villages. ORANGE COUNTY Following a campaign and hearing before the board of supervisors, the position of county probation officer was established. The office had been strongly recommended by the county judge and Supreme Court Justice Tompkins. The examination in which the Commission assisted led to the appointment of the man who stood at the head of the eligible list. The work of this office. has developed gradually. Probation has been used in all the larger courts. The Commission has sent letters and literature to all of the justices of the county and the county probation officer has visited many of them. He has published a very instructive "First Annual Report." His work is receiving public support and approval. ORLEANS COUNTY A campaign was carried on late in the fall to secure the appointment of a county probation officer. The needs were investigated and the Secretary appeared at a hearing before the board of supervisors. No appropriation was made though there is great need of this officer. Two volunteer officers have been appointed in the city of Medina. ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY Following provision by the board of supervisors for a salaried officer and an examination in which the Commission assisted, the man who stood at the head of the eligible list was appointed and began work. He has established an office in the city of Ogdensburg, and in eight months' time has received 63 persons on probation. He estimates that the use of probation has already saved the county $2,057.72. He has received cases chiefly from the higher courts and Recorder's Court of Ogdensburg. He has received general public support. SCHOHARIE COUNTY Volunteer probation officers have been appointed by the county judge for the first time and the work has developed gradually. A salaried county probation officer should eventually result. SENECA COUNTY An effort was made by the Commission to secure the appointment of a county probation officer. The county is entirely without probation work except a little volunteer service in the County Court and Police Court of Seneca Falls. After an investigation, |