The Delinquent (Vol. IV, No. 2), February, 1914

"The Delinquent (Vol. IV, No. 2), February, 1914" by Various spotlights the early 1900s shift in how society viewed justice. Published by the National Prisoners’ Aid Association during a period of change in societal attitudes toward crime and punishment, the periodical shines a light on struggles within the juvenile justice system, calling attention to the links between childhood neglect, play, a lack of creativity, and criminal behavior, and suggesting new solutions. The publication presents both an analysis of juvenile crime in New York and a reflection on developing methods in penal reform, for instance, indeterminate sentencing and humane treatment in prisons. It shows how people began to focus on rehabilitation and the problems faced by individuals in charge of running prisons and reform schools, becoming an important record that captures the discussion and evolution around criminal justice and reform at the time.