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In 1841 John Augustus is credited as the "Father of Probation." Augustus persuaded the Boston Police Court to release an adult drunkard in his custody. Marking the first successful probation case.
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By 1843 John Augustus broadend his efforts to children when he took the responsibility of two girls and one boy under his supervision.
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By 1846 Augustus had taken about thirty children under his supervision. All ranging from nine to sixteen years of age.
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In 1847 John Augustus bailed out nineteen boys from the ages seven to fifteen years of age. The courts agreed to the bail and their cases would continue from term to term and appear before court each month.
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By 1852 John Augustus had bailed out over eleven hundred people. Including male and female as well as children
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By 1869 Massachusetts legislature required a state agent to be present if court actions required the placement of a child in a reformatory, thus providing a model for modern caseworkers.
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In 1880 Massachusetts developed the first state wide probation system.
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The National Probation Act of 1925 was created. Signed by Calving Coolidge the U.S. Federal Probation Service was established.
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A group of states entered into an agreement where they would supervise probationers and parolees who reside in each other's jurisdiction.
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By 1951 all the states had a working probation system and ratified the Interstate Compact Agreement.
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In 1959 the new states of Alaska and Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of theVirgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa ratified the act also.