Evening star., 1934-12-15
VOTERS HEAR PLEA
F0R]UVEN|LELAW
Miller Called District Court
Set-up a "Travesty" and
Urges Change.

Terming the present Juvenile Court
law In the District Q travesty upon
approved forms Of such court set-ups,
Special Assistant Attorney General
Justin Miller last night urged the
local unit Of the National League Of
Women Voters to ask other State
units to exert influence upon mem
bers Of Congress in behalf of new
District legislation this Winter.
Mr.. Miller's address was made be-
fore about 500 persons invited by the
Women Voters to meet for discussion
o . proposed Juvenile Court law.
Other speakers were Miss Agnes
Hanna Of the Children's Bureau of
the Department Of Labor and John
z. Laskey, lawyer. Mrs. Richard
Hogue, president of the local Women
Voters, presided.
No discussion Of the bill actually
under consideration took place.
Los Angeles Plan Explained.
In another quarter yesterday the
subject Of juvenile delinquency also
was receiving consideration. Kenyon
J. Scudder, probation oficer OF Los
Angeles, explained to the Council of
Social Agencies how co-ordinated
groups Of citizens in that community
carry out program Of helping young
sters.
These groups, he explained, keep In
touch with children through co-opera-
ton Of parent-teacher associations,
police omcials, juvenile courts, parole
omcers. school oficials and others
interested in the problem. Guidance
Of youngsters recreational habits often
Is attempted Is q means of keeping
them from falling into delinquency.
Three committees on adjustment,
character building and environment
are formed to treat the problem. The
council Is considering establishment
of such groups in the District.
The philosophy underlying juvenile
court practices today excludes entire
ly the idea Of attaching the criminal
stigma to delinquent children" Mr..
Miller said. II was amazed when I
read the Juvenile Court law of the
District, with its parallel to the Police
Court statute. You can't correct the
habits Of q child who has stolen q
banana by trying him for larceny.
It's absurd. it Just isn't juvenile
court"
Says Case Histories Needed.
The principal need in q juvenile
court set-up, Mr.. Miller said, Is pro-
vision by which the court may obtain
q complete case history Of each child
brought before 1t.
The League Of Women Voters, he
declared, should bring pressure to
bear upon Congress to have the Dis
trict provided with q model Juvenile
court law. rather than the present
inadequate one. About IL States, he
pointed out, have adaptations of what
Is now known Is the standard juve-
nile court law, while all except one
or two States have laws superior to
that of the District.
Miss Hanna described the social
problem involved in guiding children.
making the point that ordinary de-
inquency usually Is looked upon as a
symptom Of something else rather
than an entity in itself.
Draft Is Tentative.
Mr.. Laskey explained that the draft
Of the proposed law for the District
Is preliminary one, subject to fur
ther study. It Is An adaptation Of
the standard law, he said.
The proposed law would give the
Juvenile Court original jurisdiction in
proceedings concerning any child re-
siding within the District who Is de-
hnquent. neglected or dependent. Like
Jurisdiction Il given over adults
charged with contributing to such de-
linquency Of children. Upon complaint
Of any person or peace ofiicer that q
child is within the provision of the
act, an inquiry may be ordered by the
court. In some circumstances, imme-
diate detention. Of the child may be
ordered. Children under 1S years of
age would be subject to this courts
jurisdiction.