Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-14
WOULD ABOLISH
THE UNANIMOUS
JURY VERDICT
CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE IN FAVOR
OF sIMPLlFIED PROCEDURE IN
CRIMINAL CASES.
SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE
T0DA VAT MEETING OR AMERI-
CAN PRISON ASSOCIATION. N


Oakland. Cal. Oct. H.. Simplified
court procedure in criminal eases. abo
lition Of the unanimous jury verdict ex-
cept in capital eases, determination Of
commercialized crime and drastic penal
ties for enforcement of laws were
among the recommendations made 10 the
American Prison Association today by
its standing committee on criminal law.
The report was delivered by James =
Gregory. Judge of the criminal court of
Louisville. Ky. Four reforms previously
recommended were again emphasized
These were:
dealing with criminals who by reason OF
1) A wider discretion 10 courts in
mental or physical deficiency should not
be- held TO the same degree Of RESPONSE
bility ms normal persons
y Simplified pleadings in criminal
cases and adoption ~ easy methods Of
amending such pleadings.
(3( Abolition of the requirement Of
an unanimous verdict by juries except
perhaps. in capital cases. and continu-
ancc Of trials when one juror becomes
disabled or disqualified
ti) Legislation permitting. under rea-
sonable restrictions. compulsory return
Of witnesses crossing state line and
remaining beyond the jurisdiction of a
trial court.
Your committee is strongly impress
ed with the growing importance of adop-
ting more effective measures for the
checking Of criminalizing influences.
continued the report. Perhaps no re-
form in this direction would he more
farreaching than one by whr'h CONNER
ralized crime could be exterminated.
There is no influence more pernicious
than tolerance Of practices SubverSive
and defiant Of law. INDUCED in by those
who finds such practices profitable
Misdemeanors and crimes are not infre-
quemtly committed openly because the
perpetrator can either pay the fine in
volved and make comfortable profit or
bv reason Of debased or debauched
law enforcing power. safely calculate on
escaping the penalties announced bv law
we conceive that there is no remedy
for this evil except a radical quickening
Of the public conscience No man can do
his whole duty as good neiehbor or u
good citizen who contents himself by
merely leaving the duty of law enforce
ment to public officials
1T is often said that what we need
i not more laws for reaching evildoers
but enforcement Of the laws already en-
@ted One more law. however. might he
helpful-a law To compel the enforce
ment Of law With genuine awakening
Of the public conscience and such law
that can. under reasonable safeguards
against abuse. be invoked bv the public
independent of any official action. or
concurrent power both to the proper Off
cials and the public authorizing the
Summonng Of faithless public officials
before the bar Of Justice 10 answer for
their protection Of criminal practices.
'r lack of diligence in their discovery
ma exterinination. supported by penal
lies or removal from office. disfran-
"hiScmcnt and disqualification To hold
office in the future. IN effective rcmed-
wonld he found for the most pernicious
md prolific breeding places of crime"