The Washington times., 1922-08-23
Reduction of
Crime in d. C..
By BILL PRICE.

the annual report Of the Commits
sioner of Police of that city, and
the principal reason is attributed
to "the harmony and cooperation
which have existed between< the
courts, the, prosecuting attorneys
office, and the police department. ~
The decrease was So per cent in
such crimes as murder, robbery,
breaking and entering, hold-ups
and larceny from the person. The
facts and figures are to be found
in American City" for August,
and should be of profound interest
to police and court officials of
Washington in view of battling
murders, hold-ups and general
crime in this city.
Detroit used to be known among
crooks as an "easy town." but now
they pass the word to keep away
from there. If the professional
crooks do not regard their hides
as safe in Detroit, it is quite natural
that the minor crooks are also going
to have wholesome respect for the
aggressive law enforcement that is
a result Of close cooperation be.
tween all the law-enforcing depart
ments of that municipality.
The law-abiding citizenship of De-
troit is determinedly active behind
the forces that have reduced crime
so markedly.
While there is expeditions han
ding of criminal cases, justice is
not sacrificed to speed, according
to the facts presented, but when
convictions have been secured, after
fair trials, the Detroit judges have
imposed severe sentences, especial
ly in cases of robbery and bur-
| glary.
Despite vigorous enforcement of
the laws, an increasing number of
offenders are placed on probation.
This is the outcome of the use
made by the trial judges of the
psychopathic clinic which is an
integral part of the recorders
court of that city. This clinic, un-
der the direction of an experienced
and competent psychiatrist, ex-
amines large numbers of men and
women charged with felonies and
misdemeanors and furnishes a dag
nosis in each case to the judges be-
fore sentences are imposed.
Congress is absolutely responsible
for a deplorable condition in The
courts of the District of Columbia
that directly encourages lawless-
ness. This is the failure Of Con-
gress, after many years Of urging,
to increase the number of judges,
provide for larger force in the
District Attorneys office, and pay
salaries in the latter office of suf-
ficient size to enable the District
Attorney to obtain the services of
the most experienced pros scuting
officials.
1t has been notoriously known
for years that the criminal and
civil dockets of the District courts
are outrageously congested and that
it is absolutely impossible to bring
to trial within reasonable time
large numbers of offenders. There
are enforced delays in the prosecut-
ing machinery of the District gov
ernment which Congress must as
sumo responsibility for.
When months, frequently years,
elapse before defendants are
brought to trial, witnesses disap-
pear, the facts become indistinct,
interest is lost. The uncertainty
Of punishment begets an attitude
OF indifference, and even of con-
tempt, on the part of criminals and
law violators.
The Detroit police department is
equipped with high-powered auto
mobiles and is Quilted in the most
modern manner. Congress refuses
these things to the District police
force. And best Of all, the backing
which the Detroit police force gets
from the citizens of that city has
created a morale that bodies i'll for
lawbreakers.