Juvenile Delinquency

References

Cite

Share

Abstract

Association of Probation Officers began to give attention to problems that might arise if the experiences of f 1914-18 had to be endured again, for juvenile delinquency becomes a serious distraction when everyone is occupied in winning a war. The first World War found the community unprepared for any serious change in the behaviour of young people and when an increase in indictable offences occurred in 1916 hasty efforts were made to cope -with the situation by means of juvenile organisations’ committees. As a preliminary steep, in anticipation of a similar experience the National Executive Committee of N.A.P.’O. recommended to the Home Office and the Ministry of Labour that trained social workers should be scheduled in the list of reserved occupations. Probation officers were &dquo;reserved&dquo; from the age of 30 years but 30 per cent. of the male officers were under that age and were called to the Colours at the very moment when evacuation, mobilisation and recruitment for war work and civil defence began to put a special strain upon the social work of the Courts. From the beginning of January Ig42 the service is being dereserved by gradual steps in common with other scheduled occupations and the case of each individual officer of military age is being decided by the Ministry of Labour in consultation with the Home Office.