Another important change is the doing away with fixed sentences. No one can tell how long a course of training a given child will require. Commitment for short period; of days or weeks is useless. The tendency now is to commit the child until majority, the court retaining power to discharge at any time, but the question of dis charge being generally left to. the institution. Even after discharge the child is watched over by probation or parole officers. This indeterminate sentence is a powerful stimulus to the child to behave well, and thus discipline in large measure takes care of itself. Corporal punishment is generally abandoned in the better schools. There were in 1901 65 reformatories in the United States for juveniles, with an average attendance of 19,410. Since their establishment 210,000 children have been taught by them.
The latest development in the treatment of the juvenile offender is the introduction of special 'juvenile courts.' The average police court with its crowd of loafers has long been considered anything but elevating in its tune. In the great volume of work the magistrate could not, if he would, give proper attention to ehildren's cases. Alassael»psetts led the way by having juvenile cases heard apart from others. Careful investiga tions were also made in advance, that the judge might know the family history and environment of the child. July 1, 1899, a special court was
opened at Chicago before which are now tried all cases of dependent, neglected, and delinquent chil dren of the county. One judge of the Circuit Court has charge, He is given wide option in disposing of the children. Private individuals and associations actively eo6perate to secure the best results. Similar courts have since been es tablished in Saint Louis, Philadelphia, New York, and other cities. The probation system is also spreading into smaller communities where special courts are not needed. Illinois, Pennsylvania, and other States now forbid the commitment of any child under twelve years of age to any jail or its detention in police stations.
The progress of the last half-century may be summed up as follows: (1) The idea of crime is set aside. The child is not a criminal. (2) The treatment should be educational. not punitive.
further step has been taken. It is recognized that prevention is easier than reformation. Im proved sanitation, housing reform, compulsory school attendance, with truant schools for those who do not attend regularly, the development of home life, and similar measures occupy prominent places in the thoughts of all who are interested in juvenile offenders.