The Washington times., 1922-11-14
INNOCENT
MEN LONG
CONFINED
Prompt Trial for Accused Is
Urged, With Judges on Job
in Summer Months.

Failure of the criminal courts
Of the. District to be in session
throughout the year inflicts
"gross injustice" on accused per-
sons held in the district Jail, espe-
cially those taken into custody
during the summer vacation of
the courts, the Board of Charities
declared today in it's annual re-
port submitted to the District
Commi: sioners.
Held Months i'm Jail.
MANY an accused person is kept
In Jail for months and after trial Is
held to be innocent, and yet there
II no means of making reparation
on account of the period of incar.
ceration," says the report.
1--WE recommend that arrange
ments be made whereby operation
Of the criminal courts will be con.
tinued throughout the year, in the
summer as at other periods. in order
that persons accused of crime may
De given the prompt tTldi W WHiCH
they are entitled"
The report points out that there
IL a chronic congestion at the Dis.
trict jail, due largely to delayed
trials. 1t says that the Jail can
accommodate comfortably only 200
prisoners, and that at times there
are as many as 800 prisoners. II
becomes necessary to put more than
one person in q cell, which ''is con-
dition that ought not to exist in the
interest of both TIE physical and
moral well-being of prisoners"
Urges Prompt Trial.
The prisoners at the Jail are
largely those held for the action of
the courts" says the board. The
criminal courts are now disposing
Of cases more rapidly than in the
past, but unfortunately the records
show that the number of prisoners
awaiting court action rapidly accu-
nulates during the summer vacation
months, when the criminal courts
are not in regular session. On Oc.
tober 81, 1922. there were 205 per-
sons in the Jail, awaiting acton
of the grand jury. trial or further
hearing. We recommend that every
effort should be made to afford ac-
cused persons a prompt trial.
The board says prompt trial
should be given, not only for rea-
sons Of economy but more especial
ly because prompt trial and dis
position of cases makes for a more
effective administration Of the Grim
tnal law and because persons are
entitled to prompt hearing. 1t says
that it is a matter of simple JUS
tice that unfortunate persons who
cannot secure bail should be given
q prompt trial.
The reports point out that since
prohibition there has been a mark.
ed decrease in the number of per-
sons serving Jail sentences for
petty offenses. "Unfortunately,"
says the report, I'VE cannot cite
q similar experience in relation to
the criminals charged with more
serious offenses."
Prisoners Increase.
A slight increase is noted ip the
number of prisoners, but not suf-
ficient to indicate the general
trend of conditions, says the re-
port.
1t Is recommended that law be
enacted governing the workhouse.
reformatory and Jail. A bill for
this purpose has been drawn up.
the report says, and will be submit.
ted later.
Another recommendation is that
q nurses home be built near the
tuberculosis hospital. II is also
asked that this institution admit
patients who are able to pay part
Of the cost of their upkeep. II
points out that many persons Of
modest means have no institution
near the city to go to.
The board recommends that the
board Of trustees Of the National
Training School for Boys and the
National Training School for Girls
be appointed by the District Com.
missioners.
The number Of INDECENT persons
treated In the various hospitals un.
der the boards supervision, the re-
port says. last year was 6l2. against