Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
u. S. LEADS ALL NATIONS
In CRIMINAL RECORDS
Multiplicity of Laws and Not Inherent
Viciousness of People Held
Largely to Blame.

center" outside is lucky. Perhaps he Is
when you look at it in that way. Our
system seems to be fostering criminals
rather than preventing crime.
If a boy commits crime and Is
caught by the police, he Is usually pro-
tected from punishment on the ground
that it is his first offense. The judge
is told of the poor family he comes from
and the environment in which he lives,
and clemency is asked. So he is let on
with slight repremand and probably
ordered to report to parole officer on
and Oman order which is seldom en-
forced. He becomes quite a marked
character among his gang. Having COM
mitted the first crime without serious
consequences, he tries it again.
Parole System Criticized.
A. only Is per cent of our criminals
are apprehended he may commit sew
eral more crimes before he is again
caught Here and there youthful Of
fender is caught and severe punish
ment melted out to him. He thinks this
is bad luck and feels that he has been
treated unjustly. II he is not unlucky
enough to receive punishment, he is let
of again under our weak parole system
and continues his career with more
crime, taking a chance on the fact that
98 per cent of our criminals 60 scot free.
So our criminals are built up. The
kind-hearted grandmother coming be-
tween father and child is represented by
our sentimentalists who are forever
stepping between the State and the
youthful criminal, pleading for a re-
mission of the punishment he deserves.
Criminal tendencies should be early
nipped in the bud by melting out Justice
that is sure, and severe enough to make
an impression on the youngster at the
start.
Imprisonment of Boys Urged.
I think that at the first offense the
young boy should be put in prison for
a few days at least and then released
to report to the chief of police instead
of a parole officer every week for one
year. At the second offense he should
be put in prison for a longer period
and on his release made to report
twice week. He would soon find out
that it is very unhealthful to follow
life of crime. An increasingly severe
punishment up to a certain point
should be meted out to the budding
criminal, for at that formative time
punishment would be of more avail as
a corrective measure than later.
In States prison it would be wise to
treat him so that he would not come
out at the end of his term an enemy
of his fellow citizens.
The prevention of crime is purely q
local matter. Each locality must do its
own cleaning up. Not all the COM
missions in the State, nor all the COM
missions in Washington, nor all the
laws that are made by our legislators
will ever stop crime. 1t can only be
done by having each city or community
take upon it moral responsibility, and
this can only be accomplished by get
ting an adequate, well paid pol. e force
and by keeping it out of politics. In
such a community the judges who are
elected and who keep their ears TO the
ground will act quickly and surely, while
the politicians will keep hands OF the
police force when they learn the temper
of the people.
There have been examples OF this
throughout the United States, and If
one city can do it other cities can do
| it, too. This is the only way that crime
can or will ever be diminished.