As to the magistrates' courts in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond, the conditions are similar to those in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, so far as the treatment of female offenders is concerned. There is a woman probation officer in each of such magistrates' courts, appointed at dates ranging from 1901 to 1904, but all formally appointed in 1904, after the passage of the law permitting the payment of salaries. No salaries were actually paid, however, on account of the civil service requirements, until 1906. These officers, unlike those in Manhattan, were not selected by charitable or religious bodies, but were the individual choice of the magistrates. There are, however, no police or other male probation officers in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond. The same diversity of practice exists as as to the length of the probationary period, the duties of the probation officers, and the records to be kept by them, as in Manhattan. One magistrate testifies that he placed persons on probation for periods ranging from five or six days to twenty days or a month.

In all boroughs of the city most of the probation officers have comparatively few offenders actually placed under their supervision. They are, however, called upon to do a substantial amount of work which while not, strictly speaking, probation work is no doubt very useful. They are required to make many investigations for the magistrates of cases which may or may not be possible subjects for probation. They are also asked to "take an interest in" many prisoners who are discharged, but not under probation, when the facts before the court suggest that a friendly interest would be helpful. The women pro bation officers also do considerable work in looking after women r women and children, who may be present in court either as

defendants or as complainants, and who may be assisted by the probation officer in bringing their needs properly to the attention of the court officials or the magistrate. Offenders actually convicted are also released under their probationary supervision. This, however, is a comparatively small number and this alone would occupy but a small portion of the time of most of the probation officers.

In the Court of Special Sessions in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx there are two probation officers regularly appointed a male probation officer for male offenders, and a female probation officer for the women. The salary of the male probation officer has been provided for some time by the Children's Aid Society. The woman probation officer receives a salary from the city under a special statute. In placing on probation, the court proceeds, not under the special statutory authority of the probation law, but under the inherent powers of the court. Besides the probation officers above referred to, there are from two to four police probation officers, some of whom formerly were detailed to city magistrates and when the magistrates were promoted to the Court of Special Sessions, accompanied them as probation officers to that court. Their duties, however, are confined to the investigation of the previous records of offenders when so requested by the chief probation officer, and they do not take any part in the supervision of offenders who have been placed on probation.

If the report of the probation officer as to the previous record of a convicted offender is unfavorable, he may be committed to a penal institution forthwith. If the report indicates to the court that the prisoner may properly be released under suspended sentence, and under the oversight of a probation offi

cer, he is released, as it is termed, "on parole." If the report is of such a character that the court considers probationary oversight unnecessary, sentence is suspended without any probationary oversight.

When the offender is released "on parole," it is for a period of one month. During this month, the probation officer is expected to become fully acquainted with the home surroundings, occupation and habits of the prisoner. The offender is required to report once a week, or occasionally less frequently, to the probation officer.

If the probationer violates the terms of his release, or commits a new offense, or refuses to report, these facts are reported to the judge, and a warrant is issued for his arrest.

If the probationer's conduct is favorable, a report is made to the judge at the end of the month. The court then either continues the period of "parole" for another month, or releases the offender, as it is then termed, "on probation," for a period of one year, or suspends sentence indefinitely.

If again placed "on parole," a report is made at the end of the second month, and so on until the offender is either committed, placed " on probation," or under an indefinitely suspended sentence without oversight. As a matter of fact, in a majority of cases of "parole," the offender is placed under an indefinite suspension of sentence at the end of one, two, or three months.

If, however, he is placed on "probation," he is then under the oversight of the probation officer for a period of one year. During this period of "probation," about the same degree of oversight is exercised by the probation officer as during the period of "parole," except that probationers are required to

report in person less frequently, usually at periods ranging from two weeks to a month.

At the end of a year of "probation" the prisoner's conduct is reported by the probation officer to the court, and if it has been satisfactory, sentence is then suspended indefinitely, and probationary oversight ceases.

Thus there may be three stages in the treatment of the offender released under suspended sentence in this court:

First; the period of "parole," during which a report is made by the probation officer at the end of each month, the offender being required to report to the probation officer once every week or ten days.

Second; the period of "probation," during which the offender reports to the probation officer less frequently, and the probation officer, unless the probationer does badly, reports to the court only at the end of the year.

Third; the period of indefinite suspension of sentence, under which there is no probationary oversight.

If, in the judgment of the court, the circumstances justify it, the second stage, or both the first and the second stages, are omitted.

The statistics of offenders over 16 years of age either placed on probation, or investigated with a view to the possibility of probation, during the year 1905, are as follows, as submitted by the chief probation officer:

In the Court of General Sessions, boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, the general agent of the New York Prison Association acts as a probation officer for such of the judges as use the probation system. There are no police probation officers in this court, and no probation officers receiving salaries from public funds. The judges of the court vary greatly as to the extent to which they use probation. Judge Foster appears to have made much greater use of the system than his colleagues. The general agent of the Prison Association visits the Tombs prison from time to time and investigates such cases as seem to him likely to be proper subjects for release on probation. From a third to a fifth of the cases investigated are so released, the probationary period being from three to six months. During this term probationers are expected to report once a week at the office of the New York Prison Association. The frequency of these reports is left to the discretion of the probation officer.

In the County Court of Kings county in Brooklyn, and also in the Court of Special Sessions in Brooklyn, there has been