75 Dealt With In Children’s Court

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32049, 25 July 1969, Page 17

75 Dealt With In Children’s Court

Seventy-five young persons appeared before the Children's Court in Jane, on charges ranging from serious offences such as assault, burglary, and interfering with motor cars, to complaints of living in indigent circumstances or environments that were detrimental to physical and moral wellbeing. Some of these children appeared more than once before their cases were decided.

Offences against property accounted for nearly 60 per cent of the appearances. Complaints about environmental

conditions comprised about 25 per cent and the rest were made up mainly of offences against good order, such as assault. No sex offenders were dealt with. Six boys and three girls were admitted to probation, and one boy was fined $l2O for assault. Other charges typical of this group were theft, unlawfully getting into motor cars and disorderly behaviour. Nine children aged from

one to 13 were committed to the care of the Superintendent of Child Welfare, because of offences, or because of unsatisfactory home circumstances. A large number of children was placed under supervision of child welfare officers. Most were aged from 12 to 15 years, and supervision was ordered for one of two years. This was mostly because of law breaking, although there was the occasional case where the home background was the reason for the child coming before the Court.

A large number of cases were dealt with by admonishment. These were for offences such as theft, assault, breaking and entry, interference with motor cars and escaping from custody. In all cases there were mitigating circumstances. Restitution was ordered in two cases, and a driving licence was cancelled for 18 months in another. Five children were fined amounts ranging from $lO to $2O, for offences such as assault and traffic misdemeanours.