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Up for sale a RARE! “Father of Probation” John Augustus Hand Signed Document Dated 1821. This is one of the only hand written items to come to sale in more than 10 years as most are in museum collections.
was a Boston boot maker who 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.
Augustus' 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.[1] 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
2,000 people he helped, only four proved unworthy (for which he forfeited
bail).
Augustus died on 21 June 1859 in Boston, Massachusetts.
