JUVENILE CRIME.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1923, Page 1

JUVENILE CRIME.

INVESTIGATIONS IN VICTORIA

SYDNEY, Jan 11

In connection with crime among children under the age of 17. an investigation held in Victoria, covering the year just ended. shows that almost without exception the home surroundings of the offenders have contributed materially to the commission of the ofleiiMi. The youngsters graduate, as it were, in wrongdoing, which the parents “wink” at. j A short while ago. a band of about a dozen boys, aged about 10 years each, committed a large number of thefts from houses and factories in a t suburb of Aielbourne. stealing property j valued in all at several hundred j pounds, and entering over 30 buildings in the course of their stealings. The ( leader of the “gang” had for mouths been a reputed thief and house-break- j or, and had been committed to a re- j formatorv for prior offences, hut had j escaped and made bis way home. Here j lie was sheltered by bis mother, who j instead of corporarilv convincing lnrr . offspring that he was not trending the path of righteousness, actually encouraged him to commit further olfem-e.s, and. when, ns mis inevitable i la, was caught, attempted to terrorise I witnesses against him in refusing to ; give evidence. Iwo other hoys ol the j same hand on one occasion stole about ! £2O in notes. They “split” tin booty null slept out that night. During the night each tried to rob the other ol his share of tile money, hut was unsuccessful .and when they sot out for their respective homes next morning, | each had about half the money. Tin- j hoys bid the mo new at their mothers. I wllo actually, in their turn, stole it j from the bovs.

One another occasion .two lads stole about £l5O. AVitli the monev they took trips all round .Melbourne and bought expensive presents for their parents and friends. The parents of the hoys accepted presents which cost about £lO each from their hoys without question, and when the inevitable day of reckoning came, and the hoys wore ordered to he retained at the reformatory, wen. grievously insulted "hen told they were not lit. to have charge of the children. Oil still another occasion, when a notorious shopbreaker, ago! 10 years, who eluded arrest for several months, was caught and sentenced to confinement, the hoy managed to escape from the police, and made his way home. AVhen a constable went, to arrest him. the hoy's mother released a savage dog and seizing a large pair ol scissors, placed herself between the constable ami her son .and defied. “nil the police in .Melbourne” to arrest him. Even when the hoys are caught, and safely lodged in a reformatory, they frequently 'S. ape. One boy, only 12 years old. has been .aught and taken to a reformatory at least half a dozen times, hut has escaped u ill.in a few days cadi linn., and he i., now at la rge. Con.snides and others who b.av ■ had main years' experience in children's courts and reformatories, dc-lar; that tin l confining of lads to rol’oi matorios generally dees more harm than good, hi the reformatories hoys who have hi-.1l c Oil vie! Oft ol dilferelil crimes ar ■■ gathered together, and hv “i xebnnging notes” equip I hem •elves lor a lilt of crime when they an releas'd. Am! the (-mining displayed hv children ioften amazing. It is a very rare thing for children who have coinmillul a serious cri.,ne In shop at their homes m night. They know that the night is a favourite t iiii>- for ihe police to swoop dot'll on them and take (hem in their beds, so they generally camp out in porches, sheds, and other buildings, and not infrequently steal milk and other food for He ir moriiing meal.