Evening star., 1935-07-06
The Crime Report.

AAS N<A AAAAS
The committee of District officials
selected by the Commissioners to report
on the crime study prepared by the
House District Committee has confined
itself to the proposal of certain broad
policies and does not make the mistake
of centering its fire on individuals. The
result is a series of recommendations
which, while lacking the color of more
spectacular proposals, should be con-
Sidered by the Commissioners and in
terested members of Congress with
profit to the community.
Certain changes proposed in the local
parole law, with a sharp line drawn to
differentiate between treatment of the
"habitual criminal" and the first
offender, and with more emphasis placed
upon the facts revealed in the prisoners
past record, should be considered along
with other legislation proposed to remedy
defects in the existing parole act. 1t
is worthy of note that the committee
does not fall into the error Of con-
demning the principle of parole, arguing
merely for a more practical application
of that principle in a manner that
protects the community while offering
chance for regeneration to those who
have demonstrated their fitness to
receive 1t.
Another recommendation for recodifl-
cation of the District criminal laws,
with special attention paid to procedure
in minor criminal cases prosecuted by
the corporation counsel's Office, reflects
the close study that Corporation Counsel
Prettyman, member of the Commis-
sioners' committee, has already made
in this field Mr. Prettyman is firmly
convinced, and has compiled strong
arguments to support his case, that the
procedure in reference to minor crin-
inal cases here is far behind the times,
does not properly take note Of new
conditions and problems, and is in need
of revision. That is a matter which
can be taken care of only by appropriate
legislation.
OF the proposals Immediately affecting
the Police Department, two of them are
worthy of close attention. One would
set up, through the cooperation of
Virginia and Maryland, small squad
of detectives who might function in
adjacent territory without regard to
State lines The need for some such
arrangement has been amply demon
strated in the commission Of crimes just
across the District line by criminals
manifestly working out of Washington.
The other proposal, for greater CEN
tralization of responsibility with the
precinct captains for conditions within
their precincts, is in accordance with
sound police administration. It should
have the added merit of increasing the
standards required for police captains
and increasing the emphasis on effi-
cheney as judged by their records. While
the Commissioners should 60 slow in
adopting any plan which diminishes
the Importance of written examinations
for, after all, man who becomes a
captain Of police should be able to
express himself intelligently in writing
there are advantages in adding weight
to captains record in considering his
availability for promotion.
The proposal for establishment of q
permanent Citizens Advisory Committee
on Crime, sound in so far as it might
stimulate the community's interest in
the problem Of law enforcement, would
depend for its effectiveness on the type
of citizens chosen and in the nature
of the tangible responsibility assigned
them. Citizens committees merely given
the job Of advising, and with no re-
sponsibility and no power attaching to
such advice, are sometimes superfiuous.