Documents relative to the House of Refuge, instituted by the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the city of New York, in 1824 / Pub. by permission of the Board of managers, by Nathaniel C. Hart, superintendent.

  • Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the City of New-York.
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Documents relative to the House of Refuge, instituted by the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the city of New York, in 1824 / Pub. by permission of the Board of managers, by Nathaniel C. Hart, superintendent. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    46 conspicuous. On inquiring of the District Attorney, whose station enables him to judge correctly of these effects, he expresses himself thus:—441 am happy to state, that the House of Refuge has had a most be- nign influence in diminishing the number of juvenile delinquents. The most depraved boys have been withdrawn from the haunts of vice, and the examples which they gave, in a great degree destroyed. 441 find no difficulty now in checking the young of- fenders. Before the establishment of the House of Refuge, a lad of fourteen or fifteen years of age might have been arrested and tried four or five times for pet- ty thefts, and it was hardly ever that a jury would convict. They would rather that the, culprit ac- knowledged to be guilty should be discharged alto- gether, than be confined in the prisons of the state or county. 44 This disposition so frequently exercised by mag- istrates and jurors, rendered the lad more bold in guilt; and I have known instances of lads now in the House of Refuge, being indicted half a dozen times, and as often discharged to renew their crimes, and with the conviction that they might steal with impunity. 44 The consideration, however, that there is a char- ity which provides for objects of this character, has removed all objections to convictions in cases of guilt. 44 Formerly, too many citizens were reluctant in bringing to the police-office, young persons who were detected in the commission of crimes. This operated as an encouragement to depraved parents to send very young children to depredate on the community, —if detected they knew no punishment would follow. This is one cause of the small number of juvenile of- fenders during the last year. I might enlarge on the benefits of this noble charity, were it necessary. Of this I am certain, that no institution has ever been formed in this country by benevolent men, more use- ful and beneficent. 4<I am very truly your obedient servant and friend, 44 Hugh Maxwell.” Oct. 21, 1825. Of the nature and tendency of such an institution, nothing further it is presumed, need at present be