Charity organization in your community.  Its results and the need for it.

The causes of dependence in your community.

The extent to which voluntary charitable work in your community is directed to removing the causes of dependency.

The organization of your county or town government for the care of dependents and defectives.

Employers’ liability laws, workmen’s compensation laws, mothers’ pension laws, in your state.

THE CRIMINAL CLASS

It is said that there are at least 250,000 people in the United States who make their living by crime, and there are many more who commit crime on occasion.  It is said, also, that to support and control this criminal class costs the people of the United States not less than $600,000,000 per annum, or as much as is expended for the entire educational system of the country.

WHAT CRIME IS

Crime is the violation of law.  The criminal is a member of the community who refuses to cooperate with others in accordance with the law.  The conduct of an individual may be wrong and harmful to the community without being criminal; it becomes criminal only when the law actually forbids it.  A given act may be a crime in one state and not in another state, because the laws of the states differ in their definition of crimes.  They also differ in the penalties imposed for the same crime.

EARLY METHODS OF TREATING CRIMINALS

The methods of dealing with criminals have changed greatly with the progress of civilization, and especially in recent years since the causes of crime have become better understood.  In the earlier methods two ideas were prominent:  the infliction of punishment, and the deterrence of others from committing the same offense.  The penalties inflicted were therefore very severe.  The death penalty was inflicted not only for taking human life but also for minor offenses, such as stealing.  Even in our own country in colonial times bodily mutilation was not uncommon, such as branding with a hot iron, or cutting off the ears.  Prisons were vile and loathsome places.

REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS

Humane feelings have caused the abandonment of such treatment.  The death penalty still remains for the worst of crimes; but even it has become more humane in its methods.  Many believe that it should be entirely abandoned.  The eighth amendment to the Constitution of the United States says that “excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”  Moreover, a new idea has entered into the matter.  It is the same idea that controls the modern treatment of dependents, namely, that of rehabilitating the criminal.  It is now recognized that crime