The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-09-23
The Crowded Criminal DOCkets
of District Courts
By BILL PRICE

An alleged vio1ator of the drug according
news accounts fourth bond within six months
free pursue his criminal ben unndicted by District
grand jury; untried in District courts
typical of what told crowded condition OF
in the local courts; condition that has
existed for years now which has be positive
order in this fair Capital City, condi-
ton that further increase crime and to
the further weakening respect for all law and all human
rights.
The responsibility for this grave situation rests squar
shoulders Congress- though there be
ground for that legal processes here slow
lacking vgor of application which is essential to
impressing criminals with the majesty of the law.
Enforcement is indeed in deporable
large numbers of criminals the District on
bonds four bonds EACH and cannot be
brought trial because criminal dockets congested that
trials delayed over many months and even years
thing that this Federal Capital has be-
playground for criminals that drastic, prompt en-
forcement of laws virtually impossible that the long delays
IN reaching trials result beyond all doubt in miscarriages
Justice giving freedom to men who would put behind the
bars tried speedily while witnesses available and the
facts fresh in their minds.
prime this condition the lack Of sufficient
number of justices the bench of the District Supreme Court
to handle the accumulation of criminal before
that court The civil dockets just congesed the
criminal unfair and unjust to gants entitled to reasonably
prompt disposition of Plaintiffs and defendants alike
are sufferers
There should at justices the Supreme
Court bench they should be provided just Con-
Qrss can act Further by Congress result
O SRz IN '0''nsF OsH''"s 'nO' . '"''i'' 90"
Here we have court which larger the number of
justices sitting Washington city Of 100000
neopIe It is now close to half million with vastly increased
business interests and much larger deal
with is beyond human endurance for few justices to do
the work imposed upon them There limitations their
mental and physical abilities The consequences are plain to
The district Attorneys office is limited in personnel and in
ability all the work going before it. That office
badly strengthening additional justices provided
now prosecuting office keeps the courts criminal
calendars full they cannot be cleared
Chicago judge has the admiration OF abiding clt
of that crime ridden city by courageousy demanding
tn
them behind the bars where they must remain until tried In
that city the gangsters gunmn and general run OF criminals
continuous They would walk right out OF court
after giving bonds and their violations Of the
including killing rumrunning and selling peddng OF drugs
This Chicago Judge now fixes bonds for confirmed criminals
at such high figures that they give security and they
land and remain in cells The effect has been to cut down
crime there to extent.
It might commission of in this city if our
JUDGES and prosecuting officials would agree upon policy
similar to that followed by the Chicago judge Such policy
would least impress leaders in crime here and prevent
them going free to repeat their wrong doings
Of course we may District Jail is Just as
badly crowded calendars and law Of
cers of the District ought to be able to find places to
away bad men and women who cannot give heavy bonds
deal with criminals and crime The weakness is in the lack
Of judges try those arrested and in sufficient
District Attorneys office vigorously prosecute Of
tenders especially those of known criminal records and ac
Until Congress passed the present traffic provided
additional police Judges to act judge Of night
traffic court we had bad condition Of congestion in the
traffic laws They knew that they would not be brought
trial until witnesses had forgotten what happened had
moved away from Washington
There has been vast Improvement Traffic violations are
committed without fear of arrest and punish
Putting up collateral has been done away with in most
and offenders given quick trials
There anomalous situation in the District when traffic
voaors the minor offenders rushed court
and dealt with promptly while the most desperate criminals
of long delays their trials the higher
No city be made safe for its people under circumstances
of this kind.
The District Commissioners and high court officials should
spare efforts to fully acquant Congress with conditions
insist that these conditions be remedied Every good citizen
Washington vitality concerned in this matter
aid presenting the subject to members of Congress- which
body there will be chorus of arrangement of the District as
hotbed of crime when shocking thing will
be wild accusations with nobody in the halls Congress
representing the District tell Congress what
tasten the responsibility where it belongs.