Evening star., 1938-01-26

unueSlIdple LHOuBn ne PRAISED Ray
l.. Huff, general superintendent OF
District penal institutions, as an able
exe>.astixe.s-.
Cites Parole Investigation.
Mr.. La Roe emphasized that no man
is paroled without thorough investi-
cation and without job awaiting him
and arrangements for his continued
supervision until the expiration Of his
sentence
"Paroled men," he pointed out.
commit annually approximately 8 or
9 crimes out of 5000 reported here, out
of which 5000 arrest are made While
the system is working fairly well and
does not involve any real danger to
the public, because of the care taken
in selecting those eligible, an investi-
cation into the whole system would be
desirable in order to eliminate some
of the handicaps existing"
He called the release of hundreds OF
men at the end of minimum terms,
many of them denied parole, with in
adequate supervision and without
homes and jobs "a real menace to the
community"
In discussing the causes of crime
Mr.. La Roe placed first poverty, I'M
employment, distress and wretched
homes
mot only do these conditions breed
crime" he said. but they almost make
impossible the rehabilitation of pa
rolled prisoners. 1t profits little to deal
with the manifestations of crime if
we do not attack its causes"
The bearing Of Washington's large
colored population on crime, he said,
does not mean that members OF this
race are more criminally minded or
less capable Of good citizenship than
the white race. but that distress among
them is greater and they are denied
the better Government Jobs in a city
where government is the chief in
dustry.
I'VE can't starve people and expect
them to be good citizens" he added.
Otter Crime Factors.
He mentioned as other factors in
the growing crime problem, liquor,
which lis taking an awful toll, espe-
cially among young people; police
force inadequate in numbers. and
"drifters."
We have an excellent police force
under honest and competent leader
ship" said Mr.. La Roe, but it is not
large enough"
Pointing to the large number Of
Washington criminals who are tram
sients, he said he could not explain
why the city attracted so many wan
derers, unless it is the numbers
racket"
Mr.. La Roe pointed also to a ten
dency to impose lenient sentences for
serious crimes. He said the Bureau
OF Rehabilitation had found that in
rs robbery cases the average sentence
was from IL months minimum to two
years and three months maximum.
The statutory maximum is IS years.
Prom parole viewpoint" he said,
"the length of sentence is less i'm
portant than the spread between the
minimum and maximum. In a SEN
tence of one to two years the diff
ference between minimum and maxi
mum sentences is so small that q
parole board has little elbow-room in
which to operate. A r an almost be-
comes eligible for Lease without
parole before We can grant him a
parole hearing"
Cooperation Of Citizens Urged.
Co-chairman Of yesterday after
Moons session were Newbold Noyes,
associate editor of The Star, and Lyle
F. O'Rourke, lawyer and civic worker.
Mr.. Noyes pointed out that a COM
munity's crime problem was due
largely to misunderstanding and
apathy on the part of the public,
instead of the cooperation which it
should give law-enforcement agencies.
He urged that citizens generally give
Washington's crime-f1ghting officials
such cooperation.
The crime forum, open to the public,
will continue twice daily, 1880 am.
and 4:40 pm, through tomorrow.