JUVENILE CRIME.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1923, Page 3

JUVENILE CRIME.

SYDNEY. July 12. The problem of juvenile erinie is becoming increasingly acute in the various capitals and sociologists are exercising their minds to find some solution. On Friday Judge, Bovnn. in the Sydney Quarter Sessions, was called upon to pass sentence upon a youth not yet 18 years of age. and who had behind him a list of -convictions had for a, hardened criminal. His Honour, in commenting upon the difficulty of dealing with such youthful offenders, who were setting out on a career which must result in their spending the best part of their lives in gaol, expressed deep regret that nothing in the shape of the Borstal system, which in England had resulted in 80 per cent, of those treated under it reforming their ways, had been introduced here. He expressed the hope that something of the sort would he established before long. The real cause of the s spread o! juvenile crime is exciting ns much speculation as the most effective measures of treatment. of the convicted wrongdoer, as it is felt that it is essential that remedial measures should embrace the cause, if society is to he purged of the sad spectacle of children behind Police Court docks.

The picture show of course, is extensively blamed by investigators of the* matter, hut others attribute much oi this type of crime to the distress which unemployment has brought to so many homes during the past few years. However, that this latter consideration does not applv to anything like all cases is shown by the facts, which more often than not prove that a perverted sense o>‘ romance and adventure are at the root of the wrong-doing. A curious case came before tno Children’s Court in Berth last week. when, a perfectly self-possessed girl. 12 years of age, admitted having stolen £-11 from her foster mother. Detective-Ser-geant Fraser, in evidence, said that the eiri came home from school at about mid-day, and, finding the house locked and nobody in. she broke a window pane to gain admittance. After putting away her lmoks, she went to a locked drawer in her mother's bedroom, broke it open, and stole the monev. She then loft the premises and booked a. room at the Sublace Hotel, telling the proprietor that she had preceded her father from Collie, ami that he had told her to await his arrival at the hotel. She gave the proprietor the mo-tod*- of the stolen money except a couple of pounds, and each morning for the next two nr three days asked ihe proprietor for a pound or so. with which she bought new shoes and clothes and “had a good time.” Thus £8 was spent. On about the fourth day her host refused to let her have any more of the money until her father should mrivo; an chin Wednesday last she was located by a family friend and escorted The Dench withdrew to question t.i. girl privately, and, with the foster mother’s concurrence, it was deeu ei tl-at she should he committed to an institutions for twelve months.