Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-30
CRIME WAVE
DISCUSSION AT
CHAMBER LUNCH

"The Crime wave" was Ihe SUP
| icct of talks given at yesterdays
chamber of commerce luncheon by
Judge Lacy d. Jennings, of the SUI
perior court of San Diego and DR.
| Carol Aronovici, FL Centre city plan
ming advisor. Judge Jennings stat
ed that the American people, with
their thoughtlessness over problems
of major Importance did not notice
the growth of crime until the sudden
increase about 10 years ago when
the seriousness of the crime problem
was forced upon the attention OF
the public.
The speaker stated that three
causes of the increase in crime had
occurred to him. The first was war,
he said, and that when a nation
living in peace turned its attention
to war it must change its entire life
and habits. A second cause, given
by the speaker, is the over-lenlency
of the courts with serious criminal
offenders and too readily granted
probation. as well as easy parole
and the coddling of felons in penl-
tcntiares, which Judge Jennings be-
lieves is the cause of the many riots
in prisons in the past few months.
Multiplicity Of laws, causing gen
cral disrepect for all laws, is the
third cause given.
While Judge Jennings stated that
all of these things contribute to the
crime wave, he told that his exper-
fences in studying the lives of Grim
inals before recommending sentenc-
rs had led to some further observa-
tions. Most Of the Individuals who
come into this court for sentence
are young people, mainly men or
BOYS from IL to % years of age and
in the majority of cases the mother
and father were separated or III
Vorced 81 do not know the RENE
DIV for such marital difficulties,
said the speaker. "But undoubtedly
if family life is curtailed while Il
child is Young, that child loses the
healthy environment of home life 50
necessary to every individual, and
as this Influence decreases, crime in
crcascs believe that this breaking
up of homes contributes more to in
crease in crime than all of the other
causes together. The only solution
would be to educate the young not
to enter into marriage too quickly"
Too Many Laws
Dr.. Aronovici then stated that in
his mind the number of persons IN
prison was not as surprising as the
number who were not in prison, with
our numbcrless laws and useless
legislation. He suggested that Am
erica could adopt the method of
some European nations, whereby
any law which was over five years
old could become "dead law" thus
making decisions easier for the
legal profession and for the individ-
ual.
This speaker agreed with Judge
Jennings that home environment
has much to do with the crime wave.
"fcw people can live in two tenement
or apartment rooms," said DR.. Arono-
Wei. "andrgct along together. The
fact that home is a place where peo-
pie are stored for the night and that
they are away from home all day
has much to do with the increase in
divorce and with family Delinquent
cies and the parents should be ed
Gcated. People who live in such
homes cannot behave normally"
Much Improvement can be made in
home life, and in type of homes, sug-
gcstcd the speaker and he also stat
cd that community environment
could also do much in building up
character and that young people
should have clean, normal outlet
for their energies. Fairgrounds, Ii
brarics and community activities
which tie up with individual activ-
tiles would supply tbs outlet and,
in DIR. Aronovici's opinion, building
up community and making
healthy environment for our young
people would do much to reduce the
crime wave.
At last nights meeting of the
board of directors it was decided
to send letter to the interstate
commerce commission favoring the
acquisition by the Pacific Telephone
company of the valley telephone
lines in the eastern part of Imperial
Valley. A communication from Rep-
resentative Phil Swing was read, in
which he stated that he plans to do
MS much as possible toward obtain
ing FOR Ell Centre much needed