JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12546, 13 April 1904, Page 7

JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION.

PROPOSED JUVENILE COURTS.

At last night's meeting of the City Schools Committee an interesting report from the headmaster of the Chapel-street school (Mr. W. H. Draffin), containing suggestions as to juvenile offenders, was received. Mr. Draffin said one could not help being grieved at the number of young children who, from time to time, make their appearance before the Police Court. Surely that was no place for juvenile offenders. In many States of America such ft condition of affairs would not bo tolerated, and it people who have the charge of children really wished to prevent juvenile crime it; would not be tolerated here much longer _ Young children, many for very trivial offences, were brought into tho Police Court, and while awaiting their turns to answer to tho charges made against them could not help hearing and seeing much they ought to bo protected from. (Mr. J. Gordon questioned this statement. He said that the public seldom heard anything offensive in the Police Court.) Our present system, Mr. Drnflln continued, he was satisfied did as much to help these juvenile offenders into criminals as it did to effect reforms. Suppose, he continued, a boy of 12 or 13 years of age (some were even younger) wore brought up at the Police Court. Whether convicted and discharged, or dismissed, the lad had made his first appearand) in a Police Court, and was apt to be made much of—a sort- of hero, in fact—by his companions. If, however, ho were convicted and fined, th? payment of the fine was no punishment to tho lad, therefore no deterrent. to his wrong-doing, and consequently i o cure was effected. Ho referred to "the American Juvenile Courts Bill, under which all juveniles who misbehave are brought before this special Court, and dealt with. The Pencil consisted of representatives from the Magisterial Bench, the Education Board, and municipal council. It seemed to him that, having the new S.M.'s in Auckland, now was a very suitable timo to approach the proper authorities, and. as a first step, put the matter before our new magistrates. If the committee would join him in making some such move, Mr. Draffin offered to plnco at their disposal the information he had from America on the subject. No action was taken by the committee.