View report page

120
It would not be difficult to supply the chief features of the American system
even without any remodelling of the existing places of detention. The chief requirement
would be in staff. The time required to be spent over the children would be
greater than at present and a larger number would be referred by the Courts, also
if following up was adopted a certain number of past cases would no doubt be referred
for further examination from time to time. Considering the whole of the problem,
I should, however, think that the work could be undertaken by the male and female
equivalent of a single medical officer, seeing that some of the girls might prove
cases to be dealt with even on the mental side by a woman. I should also incline
to the view that some of the interviews with relatives which in the States are conducted
by social workers might with greater advantage be conducted by the medical
officer himself, though all the information could not be obtained thus. I should
think it would be feasible to improve the supply of other information without change
in the existing staff by indicating to them either in writing or verbally the nature
of the additional information required."

* (1) Special cases where individual notes are made. (2) Cases seen en masse where individual notes are
not made (e.g., camp school nominations, school journey children, etc. ; infectious disease contacts not
included in this figure).