Evening star., 1921-07-13
CLINIC T0PREVENT
CRIMINALS URGED
Judge Sellers Tells House
Committee Way to Check
Tendencies in Youth.

Judge Kathryn Sellers of the Juve-
nile Court of the District presented
some of the leading medico-psycholo-
gists and social workers in the coun-
try today, who testified before the
House District committee in favor
Of the bill introduced by Represents
provide for examination by the pub
lie health service of persoas brought
before the Juvenile Court. The. Un-
derhill bill makes an appropriation
fiscal year ending June 80, 1922.
Among those who testified were
Judge Sellers, Jcdge William H. De
Lacy. formerly Judge of the Juvenile
Court: DR.. William A. White. super
intendent of st. Elizabeth's Hospital;
Baker Foundation in Boston and
founder of the first psychopathic clin-
ic in the world at Chicago: Rev. Will
liam j. Kirby Of the board of chill
dren's guardians and on the board of
Catholic University.
DR.. Hastings Hart. director Of child
hygiene for the Russell Sage Feunda-
tion; Victor B. Anderson, associate
medical director of the national com
mission for hygiene, and DR.. Moore.
director CT the clinic for nervous and
mental diseases at Providence Hos
pital. and Charles c. Walker. state
official in social work in the city Of
Philadelphia.
Legialatien Supported.
Judge Sellers presented letters from
judges and physicians presenting ar
guments in support OF the legislation
and a report on examinations made
at q local clinic for Juvenile Court
cases.
Judge De Lacy advocated that the
- L. u
District health department., with the
public health service cooperating.
DR.. White emphasized that the most
| important object of the bill, other
than the protection Of the community
from social diseases. is to get at
tion Of psychological influence to
save them from developing into Grim
| inals later in life. He said that
juvenile offenders ought to be care
fully studied as individuals and ef-
forts made to cure any criminal tend
| ical treatment.
Crime Starts I'm Youth.
DR.. Healy testified that nearly all
adult criminals began their careers in
youth The government, he explained,
| could save from $2,000.000 to $4,o00,000
| a day by curing these criminal tendencies
| In youth. He gave particular examples
VI CdSes "ucIc lIiiS mas Ocen QOne. he
| said that a devoted person should be
| employed to give his whole time in CO.
| operation with the juvenile court judge
to study such cases and setting them
| right.
Chairman Focht Of the House Dis
trict committee laid stress on the
| fact that the District 10 the only COM
! munity Of comparable size which does
not take care OF its feeble minded.
| DR.. Kirby. who has been secretary Of
the National Federation of Catholic
| Charity for ten years, explained the
desire to get at the delinquent child
| as an Individual and cure those tend
! ences He said he spoke for the
| Catholic elements in the community
| in indorsing the hill.
DR.. Hart said that the Underhill
bill is move in the right direction.
| and that complete mental and physi-
| cal examination should be given to
every case that comes within the
| Jurisdiction Of the Juvenile Court.
The family, home, school, work and
| general surroundings Of each case
| should be studied to make q COM
| plete social study of each individual
| case. Mr.. Anderson laid stress on
the fact that in the time of child;
hood it is easier to get at mental
defects. which might later develop
into criminal bent or habits.
| DR.. Moore said that for five years
he has conducted clinic for ex-
animation Of children VINO mignt oe
| deficient OF DELINQUENT: He SAID tfat
| such a clinic should be attschea 10
the juvenile court and that there
shouid also be a clearing house for
delinauents attached to 1uxeniie
courts. SO that they might be atydted
az individuals and proper oisposiien
| made Of each case.