Evening star., 1937-11-21
BIC GBR0THERPLAN
IS TRIED OUT HERE
Junior Board Seeking to
Save De|inquents From
Crime Influences.
BY JOHN H. Cassidy, Jr.

tnaugurated a movement which, given
an even break, figures to play an i'm
portant part in combating juvenile de-
unquency in Washington.
It was started on the theory that
an ounce of prevention is worth
pound Of cure-and on the belief that
any normal boy would prefer a pat
on the back and friendly chat to q
trip to Police Court.
Three members of the Junior Board
have played major part in instituting
the program-John I. Dugan, who Is
chairman Of the Youth Welfare Com
mittee; Charles v. Rooms. vice chair
man Of the unit. and James A. Nolan,
also q vice chairman, who Is director
of the Washington Criminal Justice
Association.
Movement Is New.
Although the movement has been
underway only comparatively short
time. the committee already has pre-
vailed upon Police Chief Ernest w.
Brown to increase the size of the
Juvenile Relations Squad of the de-
partment to better aid in the solu-
tion of some of the problems presented
by pre-delinquent boys
Just few weeks ago Maj Brown
whose belief in the prevention theory
led him to establish the Police Boys
Clubs four years ago, appointed
Policeman E. L. Hayes to aid Police
man Andrew w. Kasius of the Juven-
lie Relations Squad in efforts to help
boys under II from starting on the
road to crime.
But the Junior Board didn't stop
there. A modified big brother"
movement already has been started
within the organization through the
work of the Youth Welfare Commit
tee-and it will mean big brother in
the real sense of the word.
Before establishment of the Juve-
nile Relations Squad. here's what
happened to boy under II who ran
afoul Of the law-perhaps for the first
time. He was arrested. taken to the
police precinct, his name placed on
the book. then held overnight for his
appearance in Police Court next morn
ing.
Criminal Future Feared.
The Youth Welfare Committee is
trying to keep him out Of court, If at
all possible, because court appear
ance means start toward a record
as q criminal.
Now, when boy under II is ar
rested, he is taken to the precinct
Just the same. but there the similarity
OF the procedure stops. Instead Of be-
ing summarily held for court the next
day. the Juvenile Relations Squad is
called in.
Policemen representing this di-
vision know from past experience
that. in many cases. the trouble can
be ironed out outside of court. It is
left to this divisions discretion
whether the case should be taken be-
fore judge.
Here the junior boards big brother
idea takes a hand When Policeman
kasius has youth whom he feels
could be put back on the right track
through some special service he calls
Mr.. Koons, who Is in charge of this
part Of the boards program.
Der Of the Junior Board who has in
dicated he will be willing to give help.
Thus, through q little extra work that
might mean an entirely different fu-
ture for youths. the board hopes to
make a definite contribution to the
problem Of juvenile delinquency in
Washington.
Ovsr 1000 Boys Arrested.
Last year more than 1000 boys
under II appeared in Police Court.
With only two policemen on the squad
at present. that many cases cannot
be handled individually, but Maj
Brown and the Junior Board feel the
two can at least help a large num-
Der Of juvenile delinquents. Maj.
Brown hopes to make the squad much
larger in the future
The Board of Directors of the Junior
Board has approved petition to Maj.
Brown calling for a separate Crime
Prevention Bureau or Boys Service
Unit.
The petition asks that the present
Juvenile relations squad be changed
into q Crime Prevention Bureau or
Boys Service Unit, consisting of three
onhcers and sufficient clerical staff, and
that such unit have Jurisdiction over
all cases involving boys under II years
Of age.
Seek 24-Hour Service.
It also asked that the unit be Or
ganized with q view to enlarging it to
give 24-hour emergency service in all
matters Of crime affecting boys of this
age, and that the Police Department
as q whole cooperate closely with the
unit by bringing to its attention boys
who are in danger of delinquency, so
that the unit can minimize these dam
gers by consultations with parents.
reference to boys clubs, to such other
agencies as can render any special
service or to the Junior Boards Youth
Welfare Committee.
The board feels that with more Of
fcers assigned to crime prevention
work, the Police Department will be
abse to deal more adequately with
juvenile offenders. and ultimately save
the taxpayer considerable money by
decreasing the number Of youths COM
mitted to correctional institutions and
reducing the number of potential
criminals.
Reports from New York City, Phil
adelphia, Jersey City, Los Angeles and
other cities which have established
similar units indicate that fewer
children are committed to institutions
after the bureau began to function.