ORGANIZATION AND PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE. The first conference of the magistrates of city courts in New York State was held at the invitation of the State Probation Com mission in Albany on December 10 and 11, 1909, and was attended by twenty-four magistrates. Before calling the conference, inquiries were made early in October from all the city magistrates in the State (outside of New York city) concerning the desirability of holding such a meeting and concerning the most suitable topics for discussion. The reasons for calling the conference were stated as follows in the circular letter first suggesting the conference. "Up to this time there has been no special opportunity for interchange of views and experiences and comparison of methods on the part of the magistrates of these courts. Many other municipal and county officers meet in conference from time to time, and it is our observation that such conferences, affording opportunity for discussion of methods and interchange of experiences, have been of very great value. It has occurred to this Commission that a conference of magistrates holding city courts, police courts, recorders' courts, and similar courts throughout the State (except those of New York City where the problems are special), might be of great mutual advantage. This Commission is disposed to call such a conference if a majority of the magistrates holding such courts believe such a course would be wise." The replies from the magistrates were unanimously in favor of such a conference, and proposed a number of topics. The topics printed on pages 7-10 were finally decided upon, and were distributed in advance of the conference. In order to give all present an opportunity to express their views, the time was devoted to the informal discussion of certain of the printed topics, the only pre-arranged addresses being at the luncheon which opened the sessions. The magistrates in attendance were the following: Police Justice John J. Brady, Albany. Recorder J. Sheldon Frost, Albany. Recorder R. E. Lee Reynolds, Amsterdam. Recorder-elect Henry Putnam, Amsterdam. Recorder Israel Belanger, Cohoes. Recorder William C. Gill, Elmira. City Judge Carl M. Merrill, Glens Falls. City Judge John V. Whitbeck, Hudson. City Judge-elect Jerry F. Connor, Oneida. Police Justice Waldo M. Coons, White Plains. As guests of the Commission there were also present: James W. Wadsworth, Jr., Speaker of the State Assembly; Bishop Thomas M. A. Burke of Albany; Dennis McCarthy, Fiscal Supervisor of State Charities; George McLaughlin, Secretary of the State Commission of Prisons; Dr. Robert W. Hill, Secretary of the State Board of Charities; Bailey B. Burritt, Assistant Secretary of the State Charities Aid Association; Clarence M. Abbott, Probation Officer of the Schenectady Police Court, and Louis W. Mitten maier, recently appointed county probation officer in Oneida County to take office January 1, 1910. The State Probation Commission was represented by President Homer Folks, Commissioners Andrew S. Draper, Horace McGuire and Frank E. Wade, and Secretary Arthur W. Towne. Through the generosity of a former member of the State Probation Commission, the Commission gave a luncheon and dinner on December 10th to the magistrates and a few other guests. At the close of the session on the first afternoon the State Department of Prisons gave a demonstration of the finger-print and Bertillon systems of identification. The reception to have been given by Governor Hughes was omitted owing to a sudden and serious illness in the Governor's family. On the afternoon of December 11th at the close of the conference, a number of magistrates visited the State Training School for Girls at Hudson, where they were shown about by some of its managers and officers. 12:00 12:30 PROGRAM.* (Meetings, unless otherwise announced, at the Ten Eyck Hotel.) 2:30-4:30 Informal reception. Luncheon given by the State Probation Commis- Invocation by the Rt. Rev. Thomas M. A. Burke, Remarks by Hon. James W. Wadsworth, Jr., Speaker Remarks by Hon. Andrew S. Draper, State Com- Welcome by Hon. John J. Brady, Police Justice of Discussion of topics. A. The Treatment Of Adult Misdemeanants. 1. In cases of married men convicted of petit larceny, burglary in the third degree or some similar offense, what circumstances should determine whether imprisonment, a fine, suspended sentence or probation, is advisable? 2. (a) Are the jails and penitentiaries in this State providing proper reformatory influences for male misdemeanants between 16 and 21 years of age; (b) if not, how can persons of this class needing institutional treatment be segregated and given more satisfactory reformatory training? 3. In cases of defendants unable to pay their fines in one sum, is it sometimes desirable to release the defendants on probation, pursuant to section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, permitting them to pay their fines in installments and to avoid imprisonment in default of paying the entire fine at once? 4. In cases of defendants convicted of malicious mischief, petit larceny, assault in the third degree or defrauding boarding-house keepers, is it sometimes desirable to release the defendants under suspended sentence or probation, upon the condition that they make restitution to the aggrieved party? *As printed and distributed in advance of the conference. 2:30-4:30 4:45 5:15 6:30 8:30-10:00 Discussion of topics-Continued. B. The Treatment of Cases of Non-support (Disorderly Persons). C. The Treatment of Juvenile Delinquents and of Adults 6. (a) In dealing with juvenile delinquents, is the nature of the offense, or are the personality, home conditions and associates of the child, the more important factor in determining the wisest disposition of the cases? (b) How can adequate information about the characteristics and circumstances of a child be secured? 7. In cases of violation of the compulsory education law, when should the truant children, and when should the negligent parents, be made the defendants; and what disposition by the court is most likely to be effective (a) when the children are the defendants, and (b) when the parents are the defendants? 8. Are the provisions of subdivision 3 of section 483 of the Penal Law satisfactory for dealing with parents, guardians and other adults who are guilty of contributing to the delinquency of children? 9. How long should a child usually be kept on probation before reasonable assurance can be felt as to his or her future conduct? 10. (a) Are wayward girls and those without proper guardianship usually brought before a court sufficiently early to make improvement in their conduct likely without commitment to a training school or other reformatory institution; (b) if not, how can such girls be brought before the court earlier, and what reformatory or preventive measures, other than commitment, can be made effective? Reception by Hon. Charles E. Hughes, Governor of New York State, at the Executive Chamber.* Demonstration of the finger-print and Bertillon systems of identification at the State Department of Prisons. Dinner (informal) given by the State Probation Commission. Discussion of topics. D. The Treatment of Drunkards. 11. Should public intoxication constitute a misdemeanor as is provided by section 1221 of the Penal Law? *Omitted on account of illness in the Governor's family. |