Chap. 354.—An ACT to authorize the judge of any court, police justice or
justice of the peace in cities of forty thousand inhabitants and over to
continue the case and admit to bail any person brought before him
charged with being an habitual drunkard, with failing to support his
wife or children, with being a vagrant or an idler able to work, and who
is liable to become a charge upon the corporation, and to commit such
person to the supervision of an officer to be known as a probation officer;
to provide for the appointment and compensation of such probation
officer, and to invest him with full police power while in the discharge
of his duties.

Approved March 17, 1910.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That whenever
any person is brought before the judge of any court, any police justice
or justice of the peace, charged with being an habitual drunkard, with
failing to support his wife or children, with being a vagrant or an idler
able to work, and who is liable to become a charge upon the city, and
satisfactory evidence is produced that such person is guilty of the offense
charged, or is such a person as above described, such judge, police justice
or Justice of the peace may, in his discretion, continue the case for final
determination to some later day, to be fixed by him, and bail the accused
for his appearance on such day, with or without security, and the said
judge, police justice or justice of the peace may commit the said person
to the supervision of an officer known as a probation officer, whose ap-
pointment is hereinafter provided for, under such directions, rules and
regulations as the said judge, police justice or justice of the peace may
give, direct and prescribe.

2. The said judge, or the proper boards or other authorities of any city,
may designate some discreet and proper person, either a private person
or a constable or police officer of his county, city or town, as he may think
proper, to be known as the probation officer of such city. The compensa-
tion of said probation officer shall be prescribed by the city council, and
in all cases shall be paid out of the treasury of the county, city or town
for which he is appointed.

3. The said probation officer shall ascertain the name and address and
such facts in relation to the antecedent history and environments of the
person committed to his charge as may enable him to determine what
corrective measures will be proper in his case, and shall exercise a con-
stant supervision over the conduct of such person, and make report to the
judge, police justice or justice of the peace whenever he shall deem it
necessary, or be required to do so, and shall use every effort to encour-
age and stimulate such person to a reformation. Whenever said proba-
tion officer shall become satisfied that such person is violating the direc-
tions, rules and regulations given or prescribed by the judge, police jus
tice or justice of the peace for his conduct, he shall have authority to
arrest such person upon a warrant duly issued and carry him before the
judge, police justice or justice of the peace before whom he was first
brought, or some other judge, police justice or justice of the peace acting
in his place; and such judge, police justice or justice of the peace maj,
in his discretion, declare the recognizance forfeited and commit such
person to jail, or, in his discretion, extend the time of probation under
like conditions as are above prescribed. Every probation officer ap-
pointed under authority of this act is hereby invested with all the power
and authority of a police officer or constable while in the discharge of
his duties: provided, that this act shall only apply to cities of forty thou-
sand inhabitants and over.

4. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act are hereby
repealed.