Reformatories, institutions for the reformation of juvenile offenders, and for the care and correctional education of neglected children. This duty, but recently assumed by the government in most countries, was previously left to the philanthropic efforts of individuals. The oldest and the largest reformatory in the United States is the house of refuge on Randall's island, New York city, which was opened in 1825. (See New York, vol. xii., p. 397.) The Boston house of refuge was opened in 1827, that in Philadelphia in 1828, and that in New Orleans in 1847. But these, though supported in whole or in part by grants from the public revenue, were not managed directly by the state. The importance of making juvenile reformatories a part of the public penal system was recognized by Massachusetts in 1848, when the state reform school at Westborough was established. Similar institutions were organized by other states, so that in 1873 not less than 34 reformatories for juvenile offenders were maintained and managed by the states, or largely aided by them, as follows:

In all, about 100,000 boys and girls have been committed to these institutions. The time of sentence is generally during minority, though in a few states it is for a specified period. The boys and girls are required to learn trades, and to receive secular and religious instruction. The average number of inmates in 1873 was 8,924, of whom 7,743 were boys and 1,481 girls; the average cost of maintaining each inmate in 1872 was $152; the average earnings of each were $37; average stay in the institution, 1 year and 11 months for the boys and 3 years and 4 1/2 months for the girls; considered reformed, 73 per cent. of those discharged. Where necessary, those discharged are provided with homes or employment, or indentured; and in some cases they are liberated on probation. Fifteen per cent. of those detained in 1873 had been vagrants, and 39 per cent. truants. - The reformatory system of Great Britain has been under the control of the government for but a comparatively brief period. The work of reforming juvenile delinquents was begun as early as 1788 by the philanthropic society, which founded the first English reform school near London. Similar institutions were established in London and elsewhere; that in Warwickshire, opened in 1818, was the first in which farm and outdoor labor was made a part of the training of the inmates.

In 1838 an act was passed for the establishment of a separate prison at Park-hurst, Isle of Wight, for offenders under the age of 16 years. The discipline here was intended to be specially educational and reformatory. The greatest reformatory in England is that established at Redhill, Surrey, under the direction of Sidney Turner. It was modelled after the famous colony of Mettray in France, and is conducted on the principles of domestic management, absence of walls and wardens, and outdoor labor. Similar institutions were soon afterward opened at Hard-wicke in Gloucestershire, near Birmingham, at Bristol, and in Hampshire. In 1854 the secretary of state was empowered to license reformatory schools in Great Britain approved by him, and to make an allowance for the maintenance of the young offenders committed to them. Certain courts and magistrates were authorized to commit to such institutions juveniles under 16 years of age for not less than two nor more than five years. At the same time provision was made for the establishment of industrial schools in Scotland for destitute and vagrant children under 14 years of age.

An industrial schools act was passed for Eng land in 1857, and in 1861 industrial schools in both England and Scotland were placed undei the home office, with provision for an allow-ance from the treasury for their maintenance, similar to that given to reformatory schools. Reformatories are intended for correction, and industrial schools for prevention. Only those boys and girls are sent to a reformatory who have been convicted of some offence punishable by imprisonment or penal servitude, and who have been committed to jail in the first instance for not less than 10 days; they must be between 10 and 16 years of age, unless previously convicted or sentenced by a superior court. Industrial schools are for destitute and vagrant children under 14 years of age; they are sent directly to the institution, and do not pass through the jail. Children under 12 years of age, guilty of any petty offence, may also be sent to them instead of being committed to prison and a reformatory. Reformatories or industrial schools may be established in connection with any religious organization. The number of reformatories in Great Britain on Jan. 1,1873, was 65, of which 45 were for boys and 20 for girls. The total number of inmates at that date comprised 4,424 boys and 1,151 girls.

The number of certified industrial schools was 100, in which were 7,598 boys and 2,587 girls, besides 720 children who were under detention. - In France the establishments for the correctional education of juvenile delinquents receive boys and girls 16 years of age and under. The penitentiary colonies and correctional colonies are for boys. To the former are sent: 1, children acquitted as having acted without knowledge, but who are not sent back to their parents; 2, young prisoners sentenced for more than six months and not exceeding two years. Some of these are public institutions, founded and directed by the state; others have been established and are managed by individuals with the authorization of the government. The correctional colonies, which are all public, receive young prisoners sentenced for more than two years, and those from the penitentiary colonies who have been declared insubordinate. A similar classification is made for girls, for whom there are 20 establishments, of which one is directed by the state. There are 32 establishments for boys, including 3 public colonies, 4 correctional wards, and 25 private colonies.

The most successful of the French reformatories for boys is the agricultural colony at Mettray, five miles from Tours. (See Mettray.) The principles of family groups and agricultural labor were copied from the Rauhes Haus, near Hamburg, which was established by Dr. Wichern in 1833, and has long been one of the most noted institutions of the kind in Europe. - Belgium has a highly successful institution for the reformation of juveniles, not criminals, but vagrants, truants, street beggars, etc. It comprises three different schools, two for boys and one for girls; the former are at Ruys-selede and Wynghene, within sight of each other, and the latter is at Beernem, two or three miles distant. The chief occupation of the boys is farm work, though during the winter they are employed in a variety of trades. The girls are engaged chiefly in lace making, sewing, and laundry work. This institution is noted for the class of neglected children it is intended for, and is self-sustaining.