The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-02
URGES PROGRAM
OF PSYCHIATRY
FOR CRIMINALS
DR.. Max Bahr Outlines
Four-Point Proposal
in Interview.

A four-point psychiatric program
for the intelligent management OF
the criminal" was advocated today
by DR.. Max A. Bahr, superintend-
ent of the Central State Hospital, in
an interview.
DR.. Bahr is to address the Mental
Health Conference of the Indiana
Society for Mental Hygiene at 2:30
this afternoon in the Claypool on
The Relation of Mental Hygiene
to Delinquency"
Points in the program are:
That the disposition of all mis-
demeanants and felons be based
upon study of the individual Of
fender by properly qualified and i'm
partial experts cooperating with
the courts.
Court Should Name Experts
That such experts be appointed
by the courts with provision for re-
Enumeration from public funds.
That prisoners be discharged OF
released upon parole only after COM
plete and competent psychiatric ex-
animation with findings favorable
for successful rehabilitation.
That the incurably inadequate.
incompetent and anti-social Offend
ers be interned permanently, with
out regard to the particular offense
committed"
Such a program" DR.. Bahr said.
would make for a better under
standing between medicine and the
law in the interests of an improved
criminal code, a socially intelligent
management of the criminal, and
better control of crime and de-
linquency."
Institutions Important
Fifty per cent of those children
admitted to state schools for the
feeble-minded can be returned to
the community socially improved,
DR.. Bahr estimated, and therefore
those institutions should be regarded
as important parts of the public ed
ucational system.
Many, however, can not be pre-
pared for living successfully in the
community" DR.. Bahr said, land
yet in the routine. protected life
of the institution they become useful
citizens. Segregation therefore will
remain an important but not the
most constructive function of the
institutions for the feeble minded"
Contrary 10 general opinion, mo-
rons are not prolific, DR.. Bafr de-
clared, and sterilization as a means
of preventing feeble mindedness has
a much more limited eugenic value
than was appreciated at first.
Important Issues Raised
Deficient children raise issues
which go beyond the individual
problems of the neurotic child" DR..
Bahr said. Their personal and
home hygiene must be supplement-
ed by & school training adapted to
their special needs, for without
suitable school opportunities no
adequate solution of the problem
of the deficient child is possible"
The actual number of deficient
children among the school popula-
ton is much greater than is gen.
orally recognized, DR.. Bahr as
serted. 1t is these deficient chill
dren, he said, who later join the
ranks of those dependent on So
ciety and are apt to be found
among Migrants, the paupers, the
alcoholic and the delinquents.
If the individual defective is to
| be managed adequately, Dr. Bahr
asserted, his condition must be
recognized while he is child, he
must be protected from evil in
fluences, trained and educated ac-
cording to his capacity and made
industrially efficient. Then he
must be taught to acquire correct
habits of living, and, when he has
reached adult life. society must
continue to give him the friendly
help and guidance that he needs.