The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-07-08
ATTACK TREATMENT
BY GOVERNMENT OF
YOUNG PRISONERS
Wickersham Body Says Juve-
niles Get Same Treatment
as Hardened Criminals

washington, July 8.-(H)-CT1ClclsIn
of the federal government for alleg-
edly dealing with its youthful law
breakers on the same basis as older
and hardened criminals was launched
Wednesday through the white house
by the now : disbanded Wickersham
commission.
A formal report on child offenders
in the federal system Of justice" as
serted the government lacked proper
equipment to mete out this type OF
Justice and recommended that the
treatment of juvenile delinquency be
relegated almost entirely to the states.
No explanation was given at the
white house for an apparent switch
in the commissions lineup, whereby
this report was published ahead OF a
study Of the deportation OF aliens
from the United States. The docu-
ment was the fifth published by the
commission but was numbered as Its
sixth report. That upon the deporta.
ton of aliens was to be numbered
five.
Doak Enters Objections
Prior to the technical dissolution
of the commission July !, members
said a lengthy letter objectlng Il
parts of their report on deportations
had been received from Secretary
Doak, who is charged with this duty
After a flat declaration that TIT
concept Of juvenile delinquency u
unknown to the federal penal code.
the commission estimated that 2,24;
boys and girls under 18 years OF ag'
were held in jail for violating variou'
federal laws during the six months
ending December 81. 1880.
Although the offenses charged
ranged from violations OF the ManI
act, the prohibition act, the I.othel
theft laws and the anti-narcosic act
the report asserted they were IN nj
way more serious than the average
run Of juvenile cases."
1.-THE great majority OF juvenile OF
tenders against the federal laws ar
typical delinquency cases." the repor
said. ut is only by accident tina
they have fallen within the fedora
jurisdiction.
ANY state would apply to them tn
usual technique of juvenile delln
ouency. Yet the federal government
classes them with adult criminals
and moves against them with Tn
lsame machinery which it uses II
de,.ling with hardened offenders"
"The federal government Is no
equipped to serve as a guardian. Il
the delinquent child" the report as
serted. "Nor should 1t assume thi
task. Whenever a child has broken
federal law, his local community ma
failed in its responsibility to furnisl
ADEQUATE parental guidance. TIL
duty is local. not national.
1T is desirable from every point Q
view that the federal government b
empowered to withdraw from tn
prosecution of juveniles, where sue
withdrawal will be in the public inter
est. and to leave the treatment Q
their cases to the juvenile courts Q
other welfare agencies Of their oW
states. The commission recommend
the passage of legislation which WI
, have this effect"
! Say Discipline Harsh
The report to the president de
scribed "bits of harsh disciplinar
treatment" accorded minors and as
serted many jails in which they al
kept, present "a situation Of filth an
misery impossible to convey"
In some instances, the report sail
flogging is not infrequent while !
' others cabisthenic drill to the poir
of exhaustion, torture" position
: Stacking, drenching with streams {
? cold water, and confinement on brea
: and water have been in vogue. 4
the federal industrial reformatory
Chilicothe. Ohio, the report sal
: confinement to the guardhouse II
= : even minor offenses was frequent {
= q disciplinary measure.