“Father of Probation” John Augustus Hand Signed Document Dated 1821 For Sale

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.