South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-06
CRIME DETECTION
BUREAU FOR j. S.
Is NOW FAVORED
Capitalization of Crime Rec
ords Would Aid Apprehen-
sion: n. Y. Police Chief.

feasible means OF lessening the crime
mania that continues to sweep the
country.
The national organization OF the
police forces OF the country, not as
A department OF the government, but
as linked bodies between which CO.
operation shall be perfect and which
shall help and be helped by the fed
eral government" declares Enright.
will be the eventual solution OF the
problem OF crime control in the
United States"
Congress. asserts the head OF
Americas largest police force. should
take definite action toward the es-
tablishment OF a National Police bu.
reau-an organization that will be
centralized, studious and cooperative.
with appropriate functions that
should include the following:
Proposed Functions Outlined.
To gather and collect, receive,
compile, collate. study, investigate
and file for reference. and properly
distribute and make available 10 in
terested or appropriate police au-
thorities or the like. police informa-
ton and criminal intelligence
throughout the country; and 10 act as
a national clearing house OF crime
records, criminal identification. crime
statistics, and OF information respect
ing crimes Of interstate. national or
international concern.
To investigate. conduct studies OF
and make recommendation upon the
Standardization of police methods
and procedure throughout the coun-
try.
To investigate, conduct studies of
and make recommendation upon the
Standardization, so far as may be
practicable throughout the country.
OF street and highway traffic laws.
rules and regulations for making
such laws effective. and the system
of signs. signals and guides pertain
ing 10 traffic.
To maintain contact between the
police authorities OF this country and
the police departments OF foreign
countries
To conduct a criminal laboratory.
Should Not Make Arrests.
I'm my Judgment said Enright.
"a National Police bureau should
not be an agency through which
arrests are made, no. should It's
functions be merged with those OF
an organization engaged in making
arrests and criminal Investigations.
1t should not exercise control over,
nor interfere in, the autonomous ad-
ministration and control of police de-
partments or other police agencies,
whether municipal, state or federal.
1T is conceded that individual po-
lice departments have increased in
numerical strength and have become
more efficient. But from the stand
point OF collective effort police eff
fectiveness in this country has not
advanced. No facilities for its ad-
vancement have been available
1T is generally known that there
is a large number OF separate col
lections OF fingerprints in this coun-
try and that by far the most of these
are in the hands of police depart
ments. But it is not equally appre-
ciated that these collections can
never be really effective. nor can any
organization now collecting finger
|
designed agency is created. financed
and operated by the federal govern
ment to collect. file and make avail
able TO all proper authorities all rec
| ords OF criminal identification
throughout the country"
Praises European System.
Commissioner Enright. who re-
Gently returned from Europe. has
made a study OF police methods in
London. Paris, Berlin, Rome and
other large cities OF the mother con-
tinent.
Criminal statistics have been
compiled in England on uniform
principles" he asserts, and in sub
stantially the same form for 30 years.
/ Their collection and study is consid-
cred Of national Importance. Scot
land Yard Is the clearing house for
all information regarding criminal
Identification. SO 1t goes with most
OF the European countries.
1T is imperative that something
be done TO effect national uniformity
| in the United States in securing and
recording the data necessary 10 all
police departments. for the purpose
OF detecting criminals.
The professional and interstate
criminals in one city today and an
other tomorrow. He knows that
there IS now no national system for
| following his movements. He thinks
less Of the severity OF punishment II
captured than OF the strong probable
ity Of escaping capture. He seems
to be justified In this. The criminal
always banks on the chance OF es-
cape He has knowledge OF the in
adequacy of the existing police sys-
tenn. or total lack OF system. for cir
culating criminal Intelligence.
| Criminals Consider Means of Flight.
The chance OF eonceaIment and
fight outweighs any consideration OF
punishment Criminals generally
consider that an almost safe avenue
OF freedom from arrest is secured by
hight from the police jurisdiction in
which a crime has been committed
10 different police jurisdiction
where the chance for publicity re-
garding the crime is small
An efficient police supported by
a proper dissemination OF criminal
Intelligence are factors that con-
tribute greatly 10 the restraint and
suppression OF crime.
a National Police bureau would
make available promptly 20 all prop
! er authorities IN police work. includ-
ing federal police and investigating
agencies. information pertaining to
criminal records on a countrywide
scale. II would distribute the most
/ important current information re-
specting crimes and criminals as for
/ pie in the case OF interstate af