Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-03
MAY SUGGEST PLAN
TO ENFORCE LAWS
Recommendation Seen in
Declaration by Mitchell Be-
fore Yale Students.

An indication that the Department OF
Justice will make constructive recon-
mendations for improvement Of law en-
forcement in its forthcoming third de-
gree report was seen today in declara-
ton by Attorney General Mitchell that
harsh treatment of criminals often are
due to faulty systems Of administer
ing justice.
! The attorney general, in an address
/ at Yale Law School, New Haven, Conn,
decried the tendency to criticize law
officers without any determined EFFORT
to relieve them Of handicaps In law
| enforcement.
Past efforts at law reform have had
serious defects" Mitchell asserted
There is q disposition to find fault
with and tear down existing institu-
| tions without the proposal of practical,
definite substitutes Our system of adj
ministration Of criminal justice is being
vigorously assailed.
Two Sides to Problem.
There are two sides to this prob
| ACAi' AACAC ID LIlC very TASK OF
/ detecting and convicting the modern
! criminal. equipped as he is with the
latest scientific inventions On the
other hand, there is the need that pros
! ecuting officials refrain from illegal and
harsh methods or the infringement of
! rights guaranteed even to criminals by
our constitutions.
What Is the impression left in your
| minds by recent public discussions of
| these subjects? We have had blasts
against unlawful arrest, cricticisms OF
treatment Of arrested persons by the DO
lice, voluminous discussion of cases
relatively rare-of conviction Of inno-
cent persons and condemnation Of
harsh treatment OF convictS in our
prisons.
THE emphasis has been. upon more
generous and more const:erate treat
ment Of accused and convicts. do not
contend that these attacks are I'M
founded, although false impressions
have been spread as to the relative ex-
tent Of these abuses, because it Is the
sensational that grips public attention.
Fail to Present Other Side.
There has been failure to present
the other side. What have been the
results Of our research and agitation so
far as concerns aiding police, prescott
inalS to justice and enforcing the law?
Search your own minds for recollec-
tons of definite, concrete, practical pro-
posals for legislation affecting our judi
cial procedure which have a reasonable
chance Of being accepted by our legiS-
lature, measures that will speed up
| cases, prevent delays and pettifogging
defense, and make criminal iusticH
quicker and surer.
1T Is true there have been some, but
the emphasis in the public mind has
| been on nicer treatment of desperadoes
by prosecuting officials. Law officers do
| not prefer harsh or illegal measures.
Such lawless methods as are sometimes
used are born Of dificulty in appre-
bending and conWcting criminals.
Strengthen Arm Of Prosecutors.
Instead of pampering the evil doer
! why not strengthen the arm Of the
prosecutor, give him simpler, more ef-
ficient and speedy judicial machinery,
so that the incentive for him to over
step the proper limits will disappear"
Observers saw in several Of MitchelIs
remarks yelled attacks on the Wicker
sham reports on lawlessness in law en-
forcement and kindred topics, in which
no remedial recommendations were
| made.
The Attorney General took dig at
inefficient law officers, too.
Il am not one of those who believe
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