Evening journal., 1921-01-01
FEWER CRIMES
With DRY LAW
Decrease of 2,210 in Ar
rests Under Year of
Prohibition
ONLY 351 DRUNKS
DURING YEAR 1920

The past year In this city has been
most remarkable for lts decrease in
crime, according 10 the records OF the
Police Department The lessening OF
crime is attributed by the police, and
others engaged In criminal prosecu-
tiOn, 10 the fact that II Is far more
difficult now under prohibition 20 Sc
cure liquor than in other years when
the open saloon was in vogue. The
total number OF arrests for all causes
during the year was 3,5i8. compared
with a total OF 5,72S for the year 1919
The showing is even greater that
the figures indicate, when II Is re-
called that the total for 1919 includes
six months OF wetness. a half year
prior TO July 4, the date prohibition
went into effect
During the first six months OF 1919
when saloons were still open, the
total number OF arrests in this city
was 3735. whereas during the last six
months OF the same year and with
prohibition In effect the total was only
1893. The drop in crime, therefore,
was sudden and sharp.
The number OF arrests in Whining
ton for eighteen months fOllOWilg
the enactment uf prohibition was
55ii, as compared with 1896 for the
six months Immediately preceding
enactment OF prohibition. The actual
number OF arrests for the eighteen
months following prohibition was
less than for the whole OF 1919.
The records show that the falling
of has been general. The number
OF arrests for disorderly conduct dur
Ia ha
pared with but 206 for 1920 and the
report for the year 1919 includes the
six months prior to prohibition when
the number % arrests was larger.
The arrests for assault and battery
during 1919 tOtaled 35i AZ compared
with 2S5 for the year 1920. Arrests
for breach OF the peace during 1919
were i43. as compared with fi5 for
1920 Arrests for larceny during 1919
were i23, as compared with 303 dur
ing the year 1920
The showing in the matter OF
drunkenness is conclusive, there be-
ing total Of 1904 arrests for lntONi-
cation during 1919, as compared with
35i during 1920. For the first six
months OF 1919. when Prohibition was
put in effect, the number Of arrests
/ for this Offense was 1929. During the
] i"Ht niN hioHtio VI llldb Stdif dlltt
prohibition was in effect the num-
Der was i75. This Is In line with the
number Of arrests for the same cause
during the year 1920, the total for
the first six months OF that year be-
ing 100 and for the last six months
Of 1920, 23i.
There has been a great difference
also in the number OF serious crimes
perpetrated, there being &c assaults
with intent TO commit murder during
I 1919 and four during 1920 Assaults
with intent 10 commit highway rob
berry during 1919 numbered g. durine
1920. ?. There were 10 arrests for
murder, five for manslaughter and q
for highway robbery during 1919 anC
/ nut for murder and for man
slaughter and none for highway rob
berry during 1920.
The effect Of prohibition Is NOR,
/ sharply brought out in the records o
| the Juvenile Court, where the recOr1
Of arrests during 1919 totaled 100 a.
compared with 575 for 1920. Compare
son OF the records for ~ months pre
: ceding prohibition and 70 months fol
! lowing shows 1927 for the year be
fore, and 9Si after prohibition wen
into eject.
The cause OF this. Il is pointed out
/ pIontnlN are the DETER home cOndi
lions which have come about as a re-
suit OF the elimination OF the saloor
and promlscuous drinking OF intoxi
eating liquor.
The number OF dependent childrel
! handled by the Juvenile Court durinl
the twelve months preceding prohibi
ton was 73. and for the same perio,
after, A3 The dsOrdery cOnduc
cases were 3i3 before prohibition. %
afterwards; trespass, A before. nom
after; wandering the streets in M
night time. before. after: .absen
from home without permission thi
includes runaway boys and girls. ,
before, i3 after.
j. Paul Green. chief probation Of
flcer for the Juvenile Court. pointe,
out that 10 is di1lcult TO compare ac
curately In the matter Of mere ar
rests because. although the numbe
/ OF arrests has been smaller since pro
hibib.on, the handling OF cases
much simpler, owing 10 generall
. better home conditions. The cOntras
is sharper, also, he says, because a
the higher efficiency OF the Juvenil
Court system here during The recen
months. the system having bee
, gradually improved with the increas
d In the number OF probation officer
. and employment OF more highl
e. trained assistants.