The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-14
MORE RESPECT
GIVEN LAW AS
GROUP WORKED
0ffenSeS Less During Drive
by Indiana Crime
Commission.
GAIN IN VIOLENT CASES
Murders and RobberieS In
crease Despite Smaller
Total of Violations.

During 1890, when the Indiana
crime commission waged a state
wide campaign for more effective
law enforcement, there was a sharp
decrease in the number. of law vio-
lations as compared with the two
previous years, it is revealed today
in a. report compiled by the state
legislative bureau under direction Of
Charles marlborough.
The number of criminal offenses
charged in all of the states courts
in 1880 was 86,148, as compared with
90,513 in 1929 and 93,447 in 1928.
But while the total number of
crimes decreased, there was de-
cided increase in those usually COM
mitted by hardened criminals.
Crimes in which increases were
noted we're homicide, criminal at
tack, robbery, aggravated assault,
burglary, larceny, forgery and coun-
terfeiting, embezzlement, fraud and
sex offenSeS.
Decreases were noted in miscel-
laneous assaults, carrying and pos
sessing weapons, offense against
family and children, disorderly con-
duct and vagrancy, gambling and
violations of city ordinances.
Conviction Ratio High
Evidence of direct results in the
crime commissions attempt to
tighten court procedure and thus
prevent violators from escaping
punishment by legal maneuvers was
seen in the fact that 81 per cent
of all persons accused of violations
we're convicted, and only 30.1 per
cent were dismissed or acquitted.
The percentage of conviction is con-
sidered high compared to preceding
years.
OF the number convicted, 146 per
cent were sent to Jail or to state
penal institution, while 365 per cent
were fined only.
Statistics on civil cases filed in
all courts in 1880 show that judy
ment was rendered in 50 per cent
of the cases disposed of during the
year, while 278 per cent were dis
missed and 80 per cent were taken
to other courts on venue changes.
Civil Cases Increase
There were 1880 moro civil cases
pending at the close of the year in
1890 than at the close of 1929, an
increase of 24.2 per cent, the re-
port said.
The statistics disclosed an in
crease in the number of arrests for
driving while intoxicated and liquor
law violations. The number of
drunken drivers taken to court in
creased from 1909 in 1923 to 2,120
in 1890, and liquor law violations
increased from 8,046 in 1923 to 9,033
in 1880.
Arrests for drunkenness increased
to 17,440 in 1929 against 1850 in
1923, and then decreased to 1924
in 1880. The report showed that in
each year, the arrests for drunken
ness outnumbered those for any
other offenSe.
Fortyfive and one-half per cent
of the 86,148 criminal offenses
charged in all courts during 1890
we're for violations of liquor and au-
tomobile laws. This figure was
decrease of 6 per cent from the pre-
ceding year, the report said.
Traffic law violations decreased to
1895 in 1880 from the 1929 mark
of 13,400, despite an increased num-
Der of automobiles in the state.
More BurgIarieS
The number of robbery and bur
glary cases more than doubled in
the three-year period, as did the
number of forgery and counterfeit
ing cases. Robbery cases numbered
1913 in 1923, compared with 851 in
1880, There were GA burglary cases
in 1928 and 1,641 in $780, Forgery
and counterfeiting offenses increased
in number from 800 in 1923 to ga
in 1880, and embezzlement and
fraud cases increased from 1892 in
1928 to 2,062 in 1890.
There was less rapid increase
in most crimes of violence, the re-
port showed. Homicide cases num-
bered 154 in 1928 compared with
24S in 1929 and 361 in 1890. Statu-
tory offense cases totaled 216 in
1928, 200 in 1929 and S48 in 1880.
Aggravated assault cases, however,
increased from ATT in 1928 to 1905
in 1880. Sex offenSeS, other than
statutory cases, increased from 2,131
in 1929 to 2,508 in 1880.
The greatest decreases were re-
corded in disorderly conduct and
vagrancy offenseS which totaled
10.849 in 1928 and only 1867 in 1880,
and in gambling offenses which
numbered 2,667 in 1880 compared
with 5,l88 in 1928.