Juvenile Justice

The Chicago Woman’s Club focused considerable attention on mistreatment of children by the Chicago Police. Grace was part of a group of women that was actively tracking the number of children arrested. It soon became clear that children who were arrested were housed in cells at the Bridewell, Chicago’s prison, with adult criminals. In addition, the children were given no daytime educational instruction. Grace, and a well-organized group of Club members, set out to remedy both these problems.

The women urged the City, and especially the Mayor, for separate accommodations for children in the prison. They also raised money for teaching staff. They successfully lobbied for passage of the Parental School bill and the Dependent & Delinquent Children bill. In 1899 Chicago created the nation’s first Juvenile Justice Court. The John Worthy School, inside the prison grounds, was completed in 1900. The Club considered the court and the school to be their “greatest achievement in charity lines.”

Women’s clubs throughout the area continue to focus on the issue of juvenile justice, holding a large meeting in 1900 to discuss progress. In order to ensure the children’s safety, a consortium of women’s clubs agreed to provide funding for a probation officer and volunteer support staff. Although Grace left Chicago soon after, she never lost her interest in the needs of underprivileged children.