John Augustus (1785 – June 21, 1859) was an American boot maker and penal reformer. He is credited with coining the English term "probation"[1] and is called the "Father of Probation" in the United States because of his pioneering efforts to campaign for more lenient sentences for convicted criminals based on their backgrounds.
Life[edit]
Augustus was born in Woburn, Massachusetts. His interest in prisoner rehabilitation began in 1841, when he was touched by the case of a man arrested for public intoxication and paid his bail, moving the judge to set the man free. Thus began Augustus' practice of paying peoples' bail.[2] Augustus' success rate could rival - and possibly surpass - the success rate of any rehabilitation program available today. 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. At his death, it was noted that of the 1,946 people he helped, only ten proved unworthy (for which he forfeited bail).[2][3]
Augustus died on June 21, 1859, in Boston, Massachusetts.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "History of Probation - Probation". www.nyc.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ a b "The History of Probation | County of San Mateo, CA". www.smcgov.org. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ John Augustus, Father of Probation, and the Anonymous Letter - Federal Probation Archived October 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, A Journal of Correctional Philosophy and Practice - Vol. 70 Number 1] [dead link]
External links[edit]
- New York Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives - History of Probation: Meet John Augustus
- New York City Department of Probation - Brief History of Probation
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