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John Augustus (c. 1785 – June 21, 1859) was an American boot maker and penal reformer. He is credited with coining the English term "probation" 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.
Known as the "Shoemaker Philanthropist," 1 John Augustus dedicated his life to prison reform, the temperance movement, and anti-slavery causes. Born around 1785 in Medford, Massachusetts, 2 John Augustus left few records about his early life.
John Augustus, the "Father of Probation," is recognized as the first true probation officer. Augustus was born in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1785. By 1829, he was a permanent resident of Boston and the owner of a successful boot-making business.
JOHN AUGUSTUS WAS born in Woburn, Massachusetts , in 1785. Voluntarily and unofficially, he assisted minor offenders, including men, women, and children, for 18 years, until
John Augustus, the "Father of Probation," is recognized as the first true probation officer. Augustus was born in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1785. By 1829, he was a permanent resident of Boston and the owner of a successful boot-making business.
One man in Massachusetts, through an act of compassion, initiated a procedure that was the forerunner of the probation system. John Augustus, born 1785, was a cobbler in Boston during the 1840s. He was interested in the legal process and often visited the criminal courts in Boston.
John Augustus is generally considered the Father of Probation in the U.S. for his work with minor offenders in 19th century Massachusetts. The author provides details about Augustus' work from an unpublished letter not generally available.
