The Commission conducted a very active compaign in behalf of the amendment. A hearing was held before the Committee on the Judiciary and also before the Committee on Prisons and Reforinatories and the Prevention of Crime. At these hearings, we fortunately were able to secure the presence of the Hon. Julian W. Mack, Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals and formerly judge of the Juvenile Court of Chicago. Commissioners Folks and Wade also addressed the committees. Judge Mack's address was a brilliant and learned analysis of the fundamental needs and purposes of the Children's Court and the Court of Domestic Relations. His appearance had a great deal to do with securing the support and favorable action of the committees leading to the final adoption of the amendment in the revised Constitutior. A report of his address is given in Appendix H of this report. Unfortunately, with the rejection of the revised Constitution by the voters at the November election, the amendment failed. The Commission will endeavor to secure the enactment of this amendment at the earliest practicable date. The Commission favored an amendment introduced on behalf of the State Association of Magistrates, providing for the waiving of indictments in certain cases of felony in which a plea of guilty is entered and allowing for an immediate trial in the higher court. APPROPRIATIONS TO THE COMMISSION The Legislature of 1915 granted the Commission a total of $12,800 in the appropriation bill and $1,713.23 for deficiencies in the supply bill. The Commission has received no increase in the number of its staff since 1909. For the coming year, the Commission has requested that an appropriation be made for the salary of a statistician in addition to the present staff. All the work of the Commission, especially the statistical and clerical work has been increasing greatly, due to the growing probation work of the State, and this additional employee is greatly needed. A total appropriation of $15,100 has been requested from the Legislature of 1916. No deficiency item is required. The items requested appear in an appendix to this report. RECOMMENDATIONS That the growing probation work in the courts of the State may be developed wisely and successfully, the Commission desires to bring to the earnest attention of all officials and other persons in the State who are concerned in this work, the following recommendations: TO JUDGES AND OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS 1. Every city should employ one or more salaried probation officers appointed from civil service lists. Every city of from 10,000 to 20,000 population or over, depending on the character of its population and other local conditions, should have one or more salaried officers giving their time exclusively to the probation work of the city court. Smaller cities and villages should secure the part time service of salaried officers, either county or local; if this is impossible the courts should appoint volunteers. 2. Every county should provide for one or more salaried county probation officers appointed under the civil service, doing the important probation work of the higher courts, the work arising in the justices' courts of towns and villages, and also serving in the smaller cities which have not provided themselves with salaried probation officers. In the larger counties a separate officer exclusively for handling the probation work in the justices' courts of the towns and villages is recommended. 3. In the larger cities and counties and wherever the amount of work is sufficient to justify the expense, both male and female probation officers should be employed. For the handling of women and girls, a woman probation officer is indispensable. members are few, volunteer service may suffice. men and older boys a male officer is necessary. If the For the care of 4. In the larger cities there should be a chief probation officer and where the work warrants, deputy chief probation officers, in order that the work may be efficiently organized and co-ordinated. 5. Salaries of probation officers should be made high enough to attract and hold well qualified men and women in the service. A minimum of $1,200 for full time probation officers is recommended. A system of annual salary increases should be provided up to a certain maximum, to be paid to all efficient officers as just compensation for increased efficiency. 6. Probation officers should be provided with proper office quarters, supplies for their work, and traveling expenses. The efficiency of an officer depends upon his ability to cover his territory and it is therefore poor economy to limit him as to his necessary expenditures. 7. Adequate clerical help should be supplied to probation officers. It is poor economy to keep the probation officer in his office preparing records and doing other clerical work when his more important work is in the field. 8. Probation officers should be allowed necessary traveling expenses in attending the annual State conference of probation officers. The benefit derived from attending this Conference justifies this expenditure as it is an investment which adds to the knowledge and efficiency of the officer. 9. Judges are urged not to place persons on probation in whose cases it is almost certain that a probation officer can accomplish little or nothing of positive value. In order to determine fitness for probation or other treatment, a preliminary investigation by the probation officer is essential in practically all cases. TO PROBATION OFFICERS 1. More frequent visits to the homes of probationers should be made than has been the practice in the past. Probation officers should not depend upon office reports alone, but should see the probationer and his family in their homes frequently, generally not less than once a month. 2. Thorough investigation should be made in all cases, if possible, before receiving upon probation; when this is impossible, immediately after. 3. Chief probation officers should endeavor to distribute the cases to the officers who are best fitted to care for them. Where they have both men and women probation officers, the cases of women and girls should invariably be assigned to women officers; the cases of men and older boys should invariably go to male probation officers. 4. Probation officers should welcome the assistance of volunteer probation officers and other workers, but should not leave the care of their cases to such workers alone. Probation officers should remain in official charge of all cases assigned to them and insist on frequent and accurate reports of all services performed by volunteer assistants. Probation officers should work out a plan of co-operation with all the charitable, civic, religious, and other organizations in their communities so as to obtain a maximum amount of co-operation in their cases. 5. Probation officers should seek legitimate and enlightening publicity for their work through the newspapers, always insisting that the names of probationers and others involved in their cases be not published. They should seek opportunities to talk about their work in various kinds of public gatherings. 6. All probation officers should prepare annual reports to be submitted to the judges of the courts in which they serve and to the public officials of the city or county employing them. The work of the probation officer is of the greatest value to the community, both morally and materially. His work is both preventive and reformatory. He should receive the support and encouragement not only of judges and public officials, but also of all the people. The success of the officers and of the probation system depends in large measure upon the interest and co-operation of the people in each locality. The support and appreciation afforded to the probation workers of the State is constantly increasing. The State Probation Commission desires to express its appreciation of the courtesies and aid extended to it by the judges and other officials, departments, organizations, to the press, and to the many persons who have been of great assistance in its work during the past year. Respectfully submitted, HOMER FOLKS, President, April 3, 1916. 3 |