Evening star., 1935-03-28
Facilities Held Inadequate
for Many Cases in
Police Court.
PROSECUTION DEFECTS
DESCRIBED IN DETAIL
Additional Jury Panel Urged to
End Delays-Informations
Pile Up Rapidly.

Corporation Counsel z. Barrett
Prettyman told the special Crime
Committee of the House today that
WaShingtons minor criminal problem
Is "a real one"
Sketching in detail the defects in
the prosecution system. Prettyman
listed among them the inadequacy Of
physical facilities for handling the
large number of cases taken into
Police Court, and the numerous de-
mands for jury trials which necessi-
tate a delay.
Prettyman insisted that the only
delays in Police Court prosecutions
involve jury cases. and declared that
some step should be taken to prevent
that condition by an additional jury
panel. He pointed out that informa-
tions are filed at rate in excess of
l GOO a week, and that the four judges
cannot give all of these cases their
individual attention.
Enactment of the bill now pending
in Congress to authorize the Commis-
sioners to use P. w. A. funds for
construction of the proposed new
courts building was urged by Pretty
man as one of the crying needs.
Presents Broad Picture"
Prettyman, at the outset of his
testimony. explained he would like to
give a broad picture" of the minor
criminal situation in the District. He
said he had given it considerable
study and found that it is "a real
problem"
Prettyman said the attitude Of the
public toward law and law enforce
ment is important in the minor GRIM
inal field. Most of the problems in
this field. he declared. arise from two
sources-inadequacy of physical ia
cilities. and the large number of cases.
Prettyman mentioned the need for
new Police Court building to pro-
vide adequate facilities. and urged
enactment of the pending bill author
struction of that building
Asked about charges of delays in
prosecutions. Prettyman declared
these occur only in jury cases.
Police Procedure Outlined.
Prettyman next outlined in detail
the procedure followed by police
man after making an arrest and de-
scribed the function of the three diff
ferent branches in Police Court
United States. District and traffic.
He explained that the time Of juries
is roughly divided between cases ham
died by his Office and those by the
United States attorneys Office. The
highest number of jury cases disposed
of in any one week, he said, was nine,
but that maximum cannot be main
tanned throughout the year. AS re-
suit, he pointed out, jury cases accu-
mulate and clog the docket.
Prettyman told the committee that
one of the most vivid lessons in law
enforcement "can be learned ny going
into Police Court and listening to pre-
liminary hearings in collision cases,
because the testimony is so diametri-
cally opposed"
Calling attention to the large num-
Der of cases taken into Police Court,
Prettyman said it is humanity tmpos-
sible for the four judges to give them
all individual attention. He declared
55, 900 informations we're filed last
year-a rate of more than 1000 4
week.
Favors Direct Trials.
I'm my opinion" he said. there is
no earthly reason why the minor cases.
such as intoxication. first offens,
speeding, in which there has been n,
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