882

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 611.

Commissioners shall designate one of the police justices to
act in his place.

Amended.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted. That the sub-title before section
881 of said Article be amended so as to read "Vagrant,
Dependent and Vicious Children."

New section:
added.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the following new sections
be added to said Article, to follow after section 886 thereof,
and to be numbered and known as sections 886 A and 886 B of
the said Article, respectively :

Probation
officers
appointed.

Section 886 A. The Supreme Bench of Baltimore City shall
have authority to appoint, and at pleasure remove, in such
number as the said Supreme Bench shall from to time deem
advisable, persons of either sex of good character, to serve
during its pleasure, but without compensation from the city or
State, as probation officers for minors as hereinafter provided.
Whenever any child under, or apparently under, the age of
sixteen years, shall have been arrested or shall be charged with
a crime of incorrigible or vicious conduct, or whenever appli-
cation is made under the provisions of the laws of this State
for the commitment of any such child to any reformatory or
other institution it shall be the duty of one or more of the said
probation officers designated by the Court or magistrate here-
inafter next mentioned to make such investigation as may be
required by the Court or magistrate having jurisdiction of the
case, to be present at the hearing of the case in order to repre-
sent the interests of the child and to furnish to the Court or
magistrate such information and assistance as may be required,
and before and after trial, in the discretion of the Court or
magistrate, to have control and custody of the child, subject
to the order of the Court or magistrate.

Investigation
made into
the case.

Section 886 B. At the trial of any such child charged with
crime or with incorrigible or vicious conduct, whether before
a Court or a magistrate, due investigation shall be made into
the circumstances of the case and the surroundings of the child,
with special reference to its future welfare. The Court or mag-
istrate, either before trial, with the consent of the child, or its
parent or guardian, or after conviction, may in its discretion
suspend further proceedings during the good behavior of the
child and place it in the care of any of the probation officers
for minors appointed under the preceding section, for such
time and upon such conditions as may seem proper. Such
probation officers shall have the power to bring such child
before the Court or magistrate at any time during the period
for which it was committed to his care.
Approved April 11, 1902.