NCJ Number
198863
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 66 Issue: 3 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 38-42
Editor(s)
Timothy P. Cadigan
Date Published
December 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the origin of the probation system based upon an idea promulgated by John Augustus in 1852.
Abstract
John Augustus wrote A Report of the Labors of John Augustus for the Last Ten Years, in Aid of the Unfortunate, in 1852, in which he introduced the idea of the probation system in the United States. As it is a description of what he did, this author has studied it and identified the underlying philosophy, principles of selection, and methods of supervision used by Augustus in his unpaid role of standing bail for and supervising the rehabilitation of certain offenders. This author provides a detailed description of the contents of Augustus' account of his life and work. He states that it is possible to discern from these writings (and from what is unwritten) a coherent theory that guided his court interventions and specific tactics that he used for specific types of cases. Augustus sought for his first case a common, habitual drunkard, deemed beyond help. The details of Augustus' work are described and the importance attributed to the family and the value of immediate employment to support the family are noted. Focus areas of this article include a theory of rehabilitation during the period of probation before sentencing, female drunkards, bailing and reforming children, the case of the madam, and rescuing young prostitutes and placing them in families. It is noted that due to Augustus' experience with corruption by police officers, they were barred from being probation officers. In conclusion, John Augustus' theory and practice were guided by more of a social work ideology and the belief that the family was the social setting for reform. References