HOME VISITS BY PROBATION OFFICERS IN PROBATION CASES New York, 1st Division, Magistrates' Courts. New York, Children's Court, Bronx. 20 461 23.0 166 2,142 12.9 1,543 3,537 2.3 39 112 368 1,784 9.4 15.9 149 165 1.1 12.7 The work of the probation officers in the rural parts of the State has been extending gradually. Last year 36 counties as against 35 in 1914, used probation in the courts of one or more towns and villages. Five hundred and ten persons were placed on probation by the justices in 75 towns last year. Nearly all of this work is carried on by the salaried county probation officers who visit the towns, make investigations and supervise probation cases either directly or with the help of volunteers. The counties where this work was carried on most extensively last year were Clinton, Cortland, Dutchess, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange and Steuben. In the last two counties the work was started during the past year, and has developed rapidly and successfully. In Steuben county the county probation officer has secured the services of four active volunteers serving in as many villages. These volunteers appoint regular days for receiving reports from the probationers residing in their villages; they collect money and report at frequent intervals to the county probation officer, who keeps in close touch with their work at all times. There is a large field for the development of this work in every rural county of the State. With the employment of increasingly more salaried county probation officers and the payment of better salaries, this work is bound to be extended and to improve in quality throughout the State. PROBATION FOR DRUNKARDS AND DRUG ADDICTS The table on page 27 of this report, giving the charges against adults placed on probation during the past year shows 1,472 persons were last year placed on probation for public intoxication. During the preThis was 11.3 per cent. of all probation cases. ceding year 1,974 persons were placed on probation for public A decrease is thereintoxication, or 15.4 per cent. of all cases. fore indicated in the use of probation for inebriates, although this still remains one of the leading charges. It is now generally agreed that probation is nearly always It may ineffective as a treatment for habitual drunkards.. be hopefully applied to certain of the younger cases where For those repeathabits of intemperance are not confirmed. edly arrested, or who have been addicted for years to the use of alcohol until they are diseased, body and mind, the supervision of a probation officer can not be close enough, nor can his influence, no matter how helpful, be exerted constantly enough to cure the diseased condition. Hospital or institutional treatment is required in these cases. The public is gradually beginning to realize that special institutions must be provided. They are as necessary in any locality whether it be urban or rural, as are hospitals for the tuberculous or the insane. New York city has led the way by the establishment of its Inebriety Farm at Warwick. This institution has been successful in effecting cures and is receiving both alcoholics and drug users from New York city. On this farm the men are kept under healthful conditions and are constantly employed in the open air, far removed from temptation. They are reconstructed in body while at the same time their wills are strengthened and temperate habits established. The city of Rochester is about to establish a farm colony for inebriates. It would be well if all the larger cities in the State could have such institutions, where judges could send both those addicted to drink and to drugs. The courts would thus be rid of an intolerable burden. Much that has been said above applies to the increasing evil of drug addiction. This evil has been growing enormously and the probation system has felt the strain. While not many drug users are placed on probation for that offense alone, the probation officers are constantly discovering the habit in cases which they are called upon to investigate, or which are placed on probation for other offenses. The treatment of drug users on probation is perhaps less hopeful than that of the confirmed drunkard. Hospital or institutional treatment is necessary. This is being realized by the judges in most of our cities, who are now sending many of these victims for short periods to hospitals where they receive special treatment. In general the treatment in these hospitals is for too brief a period. The farm for inebriates where these victims may be given healthful training for body and mind for a sufficiently long period is now generally agreed by all who are familiar with the problem to be the best solution. The probation system should no longer be loaded down with cases for which institutional treatment is alone effective. UNOFFICIAL AND PREVENTIVE WORK OF PROBATION OFFICERS Many probation officers do more or less work with cases which are brought to their attention directly or indirectly but which have not passed through court proceedings. The first duty of a probation officer is to care for the cases assigned by the court. This usually requires all of his time. In some localities, however, especially in rural districts and in smaller cities, the probation officer has time to make investigations at the request of parents or relatives and friends of children and sometimes adults inclined to go wrong. |