National Conference of Charities and Corrections - 1916

THE POLICEWOMAN: DISCUSSION*
by Mrs. Charles Carroll Brown, Indianapolis
We need education and the development of public opinion to the point where our community not only will support, but will prevent the interruption of, such humanitarian work as was done in our City Court between 1910 and 1914 by Judge James A, Collins, a work which was true civic service and which would be of incalculable value in improving social conditions could it be carried on all the time. The public has not yet realized what was done nor the need the court had for opportunity to carry out its ideals, the lack of proper and sufficient detention homes for girls and women, sufficient probation otlicers, paid or volun- teer, to extend the work, or even share the burden of what was done.

I shall confine myself to that phase of the work which directly affected women. Judge Collins appointed Mrs. Eva Payne Hopkins, recently deceased, Court Matron, which made her Chief Probation Officer for Women and gave her police powers. She was a rare woman for the position, fitted by life experience, which she had transmuted into character, and social experience under "Golden-Rule Jones" in Toledo, and in other places, to blaze the path in our city. She wore no uniform, she carried her badge in her pocket, never to be shown unless there was absolute need for the authority of the law behind her. The necessity seldom arose, for she had the power to make people feel her friendly and helpful attitude, and was able to investigate cases successfully because she united judgment with sympathy, and was able to take an impartial view of the situation she was called upon to consider.

The law under which Mrs. Ilopkins served was passed in 1911. It reads in part as follows:

She shall, under the direction of the judge of the city court, Investigate and report to such judge upon the past histories, conditions of living, character, morals and habits of all women and girls awaiting trial In such city court and shall have supervision of such women and girls while not in actual custody until final disposition of the charges against them.
Under Judge Collins, and Mrs. Hopkins as Court Matron and head probation officer for women, great things were done for that stream of childish, ignorant, weak men and women which flows through a city court. The tribunal became in reality though not formally, a court of domestic relations where families were readjusted, men signed the pledge, worked for their families, paid fines assessed against them, increased their sense of responsibility and self-respect, instead of decreasing it, as under the old system. A day was set apart for women’s cases.

Mrs. Hopkins had investigated 586 cases involving girls and young women. Of this number, 62 were committed to institu- lions, and 28 were given nominal fines. Three hundred and thirty-six were released tinder the supervision of this officer and the balance were allowed to go without any record being made against them. Through her efforts 72 girls were returned to their homes. Employment was secured for 61. Twenty-three girls gave up their lives of shame.

In the meeting of the Policewomen’s Section of this Conference, and in the experience of the Indianapolis court it is clearly shown, that under whatever title they may serve, women, as part of the city government, have done and are doing a great work. While the work of the policewomen may not be stand- ardized now, if any effort is made toward such an end, let it be in the direction of educating women toward efficiency in social service, and do not let it crystallize into a "system" which will rob their work of individual initiative and spontaneity.

DISCUSSION: The foliowing-named delegates took part in informal discussion: Graham Romeyn Taylor, David I. Kelly, New York; L. A. Halbert, Kansas City; C. H. Patterson, New Orleans; F. Emory Lyon, Chicago; Judge James A. Collins and Mrs. Bennet, Indianapolis.

* Discussion reported only in part.