Background
Augustus was born in Burlington, Massachusetts.
Augustus was born in Burlington, Massachusetts.
Augustus" efforts are credited with the establishment of the Presentence Investigation. Only one manuscript is attributed to him: The Report of the Labors of John Augustus. He wrote in a letter:
"Time has not been spent in getting out books, but in getting persons out of jail."
The court allowed Augustus to take more and more offenders into his custody.
Of course he didn"t try to take all the cases, he would select prospective probationers based on age, character and the people places and things apt to influence them to make his decision.
His practice assumed that most offenders are not dangerous and will respond well to treatment. In 1843 Augustus turned his attention toward helping children.
He took three children into his care, all accused of stealing. The children included two girls ages eight and ten, and an eleven-year-old boy.
Three years later this number had grown to thirty children ranging nine to sixteen years old.
The process was such that the children"s cases were continued for period of several months as a term of probation. At the calling of the docket each month, Augustus would appear to make his report and the cases would pass on for 5–6 months. Then, at the end of the term he would appear with some of the children, and as with his first success their appearance had drastically improved from the time of their arraignment.
His work brought him the devotion and aid of many Boston philanthropists and organizations.
Augustus" success started him on an 18 year run as the first probation officer ever. At his death, it was noted that of the 2,000 people he helped only four proved unworthy (for which he forfeited bail).
In 1878, Massachusetts authorized the Mayor of Boston to hire a probation officer based upon the work of John Augustus. Two years later, every city in Massachusetts was using a probation officer and by 1890, every court in the state had one.