The Passage of the Juvenile Court Law in Iowa, 1904

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An Act Enlarging the Powers of the District Court, and to Regulate the Treatments and Control of Dependent, Neglected and Delinquent Children.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

Section 1.  The district court is hereby clothed with original and full jurisdiction to hear and determine all cases coming within the purview of this act, and the proceedings, orders, findings and decisions of said court shall be entered in a book or books to be kept for the purpose and known as the Juvenile Court Record.  Said court shall always be open for the transaction of business coming under the purview of this act, but the hearing of any matter requiring notice shall be had only in term time or at such time and place as the Judge may appoint.

Section 2.  This act shall apply only to children under the age of sixteen years, not at the time inmates of a state institution or any industrial school for boys or for girls, or any institution incorporated under the laws of this State, and shall apply to all children of said age, except such as are charged with the commission of offenses punishable under the law of the State with life imprisonment, or with the penalty of death.  For the purpose of this act, the words “dependent children” or “neglected children” shall mean any child who for any reason is destitute or homeless or abandoned; or dependent upon the public for support; or who has not proper parental care or guardianship; or who habitually begs or receives alms; or who is found living in any house of ill fame, or with any vicious or disreputable person; or whose home, by reason of neglect, cruelty or depravity on the part of its parents or guardian or other person in whose care it may be, is an unfit place for such child; and any child under the age of ten years, who is found begging, or giving any public entertainment upon the street for pecuniary gain for self or another; or who accompanies or is used in aid of any person so doing; or who, by reason of other vicious, base or corrupting surroundings, is, in the opinion of the court, within the spirit of this act.  The words “delinquent child” shall include any child under the age of sixteen years, who violates any law of this State, or any city or village ordinance; or who is incorrigible; or who knowingly associates with thieves, vicious or immoral persons, or who is growing up in idleness or crime; or who knowingly frequents a house of ill fame; or who patronizes any policy shop or place where any gaming device is, or shall be operated; or who habitually wanders about any railroad yards or tracks, gets upon any moving train or enters any car or engine without lawful authority.  The word “child” or “children” may mean one or more children, and the word “parent” or “parents” may be held to mean one or both parents when consistent with the intent of this act.  The word “association” shall include any corporation which includes in its purposes the care or disposition of children coming within the meaning of this act.

Section 3. Any reputable person being a resident of the county, having knowledge of a child in his county who appears to be either dependent, neglected or delinquent, may, without fee, file with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the matter, a petition in writing, setting forth the facts, verified by affidavit; it shall be sufficient if the affidavit is upon information and belief.

Section 4.  Upon the filing of the petition the court may cause a summons to issue requiring the person having custody or control of the child or with whom the child may be, to appear with the child at a time and place stated in the summons. …On the return of the summons or other process, or as soon thereafter as may be, the court shall proceed to hear and dispose of the case in a summary manner, provided, however, that when the child is brought before the court, charged with the commission of a crime, not punishable with imprisonment for life, or the penalty of death, the court may, and if the child, its parent or guardian demands, shall place the child in trial for the commission of such offense.  Where the penalty for the offense committed, exceeds a fine of one hundred dollars, or imprisonment for thirty days, the court shall make an examination and in conducting same shall be governed by the provisions of section…of the Code and shall make certificate, order of discharge or commitment, issue warrant, require undertakings of witnesses and security and commit witnesses as provided by sections…of the Code inclusive.  If the child is unable to furnish the required bail, the child may, pending the final disposition of the case, be detained in the possession of the person having the charge of the same, or may be kept in a suitable place provided by the city or county authorities.  If the crime is not triable on indictment or if it appears on the examination that a public offense has been committed which is not triable on indictment the court may order any peace officer to file an information against the child before him and shall proceed to try the case before a jury of twelve men, selected as in a justice’s court.  The proceedings, costs and taxation thereof, shall be as provided for trials in the district court and the defendant shall be entitled to his exceptions and right of appeal. 

Section 5.  (If found guilty, a judge may dispose of the case in a manner pursuant to further sections.)

Section 6.  The court shall have authority to appoint or designate one or more discreet persons of good character to serve as probation officers…said probation officers to receive no compensation from the public treasury. …it shall be the duty of the probation officer to make such an investigation as may be required by the court; to be present in court in order to represent the interests of the child when the case is heard; to furnish to the court such information and assistance as the judge may require; and to take such charge of any child before and after trial as may be directed by the court.

Section 7.  The Judge of such court…is hereby empowered…to exclude from the court room at such hearing all persons that in his opinion, are not necessary for the hearing of the case….

Section 8.  When any child of the age stated in Section Two (2), hereof, shall be found to be dependent or neglected, within the meaning of this act, the court may make an order commiting child to the care of some suitable State institution, or to the care of some reputable citizen of good moral character, or to the care of some industrial school, as provided by law, or to the care of some association willing to receive it, embracing in its objects the purpose of caring for and obtaining homes for dependent and neglected children, which association shall have been accredited as hereinafter provided.  The Court, may, when the health or condition of the child may require it, cause the child to be placed in a private hospital or institution which will receive it for like purposes without charge.

Section 9.  (Once committed, the child becomes the ward of the assigned institutions. That authority may place the child out or adopt the child out as they see fit.)

Section 10.  It shall be lawful for the parent, parents, guardian or other person having a right to dispose of dependent or neglected child to enter into an agreement with any association or institution incorporated under any public law of this State for the purpose of aiding, caring for or placing in home such children, and being approved herein provided, for the surrender of such child to such association or institution, to be taken and cared for by such association or institution or put in a family home…(goes on to adoption procedure.)

Section 11.  In the case of a delinquent child, the court may continue the hearing from time to time, and may commit the child to the care or custody of a probation officer, and may allow said child to remain in its own home subject to the visitation of the probation officer; such child to report to the probation officer as often as may be required, and subject to be returned to the court for further or other proceedings whenever such action may appear to be necessary; or the court may cause the child to be placed in a suitable family home, subject to the friendly supervision of the probation officer and the further order of the court; or it may authorize the child to be boarded out in some suitable family home, in case provision is made by voluntary contribution or otherwise for the payment of the board of such child, until a suitable provision may be made in a home without such payment; or the court may commit a such child, if a boy, to an industrial school for boys; or, if a girl, to an industrial school for girls; or the court may commit the child to any institution within the county, incorporated under the laws in this State, that may care for delinquent children, or be provided by a city or county, suitable for the care of such children, or to any state institution which may be established for the care of delinquent boys or girls over the age of ten years.  In no case shall a child be committed beyond his or her minority.  …the court shall, in the recommendation of the board (Board of Managers with the power of parole), have power to discharge such child from custody whenever, in the judgment of the court, his or her reformation is complete…

Section 12.  …When any child be sentenced to confinement in any institution to which adult convicts are sentenced, it shall be unlawful to confine such child in the same yard or building in which adult convicts may be present…

Section 13.  Inquiry into parents' ability to support the child; may order support.)

Section 14.  The Board of Control shall designate and approve the institutions and associations to have charge of juveniles under this act and shall have supervision, oversight and right of visitation (by all or any of its members or by such persons as it shall appoint thereto) to all institutions and associations having charge of juveniles under this act, and said court, institutions and associations shall make annual reports in the first fifteen days in January of each year to said Board of Control…

Section 15.  The court in commiting children shall place them as far as practicable in the care and custody of some individual holding the same religious belief as the parents of said child, or with some association which is controlled by persons of like religious faith with the parents of said child.

Section 16.  This act shall be construed liberally to the end that its purpose may be carried out, to-wit: That the care, custody and discipline of a child shall approximate as nearly as may be that which should be given by its parents, and in all cases where it can properly be done, the child to be placed in an approved family home and become a member of the family by legal adoption or otherwise.

Senate File No. 90 approved April 7, 1904

(Signed) Albert Cummins, Governor.