Evening star., 1937-04-30
BEHAVIOR CLINIC
URGED BY JUDGE
Curran Tells PetWorth Group
Lack of Background In
periIs Justice.

ANY Judge without detailed in
formation concerning a criminals
background, his environment and
causes of the crime, who imposes
sentence is doing nothing but guess
ing"
This charge was made last night by
Judge Edward M. Curran of the Po-
lice Court at the third annual BAN
uuet of the PetWorth Citizens AsSo-
citation at Petworth School, when he
spoke in behalf of his proposal for
establishment of behavior clinic"
Judge Nathan Cayton of the Mu-
nicipal Court spoke on the Small
Claims Court" outlining his reasons
for supporting the bill now pending
in Congress for establishment of such
tribunal.
Judge Curran proposed that the
"clinic furnish information for the
Judge concerning the criminal at the
time between conviction and before
sentencing. He believes that it will
help materially in aiding juriSts with
the problem of coping with organized
alarming rate
Such an agent for correction
would be in charge of pSyChiatristS,
psychologists, social workers, proba-
ton officers and others who would
go into the criminals past history on
a scientific basis Upon the clinics
recommendations and findings, the
n lot with
of efficiency never before possible
whether the convicted person should
be confined to a hospital, penal in
stitution or just what corrective meas
ures should be taken"
The Police Court judge urged the
PetWorth Association to form a
committee to work with the courts
in an effort to stem the tide of
growing lawlessness."
The problem Of crime is a re-
sponsibility of society. not of GRIM
inals themselves. The country to-
day looks to men and women inter-
eSted in civic welfare to solve the
problems that confront us on every
side" he said.
Judge Cayton reviewed the diff
culties a plaintiff or defendant en-
counters when a small claim case
comes to court, before he launched in
to discussion of the bill now pending
before Congress.
He denounced the technicalitieS, the
circumspective course and numerous
legal difficulties that, he said, are met
under the present set-up when small
claim comes for trial
The bill now pending would do
away with all the encumbrances that
at present stand in the way of a
speedy and friendly settlement. For
malities would be brushed aside in
an informal atmosphere that would
be beneficial, both to the defendant
and the plaintiff"
He denied charges that enactment
of the bill would tend to abolish the
services of lawyers. He pointed out
members of the bar generally are re-
luctant to take such small fee" cases.
His proposal, he said, did not call
Tor establishment of an additional
court, but would be tribunal to act
Do d uil1I WitIllIl lIlS pleSSIL court
system.
The gathering of the association was
attended by approximately lis per-
sons. Earl w. Cooper, president,
served as POSTMASTER.
Among those called on for brief
remarks were four past presidents of
the group, Charles E. James, Lyster
H. Dewey, Horace J. Phelps, and John
T. Thomas; Alan Davis, former princi-
pal of Roosevelt High School, and
James G. Yaden, Petworth's delegate
to the federation.
Several vocal numbers were rendered
by the Potomac Electric Power Co.
Glee Club under the direction of
Harry E. Yeide, and accompanied by
Mrs. Cornelia Kinsella. The Vaughan
Glass Orchestra of the Calvary Bap-
tist Church, with Chester c. Hutchin-
son directing, played several musical
numbers.