Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-31
Report Urges
Detention Home
In Alexandria
Practice Of Holding
Children at Police
Station Criticized

Substitution of a foster home for
the practice of OBTAINING children
in the police station was recon-
mended in the report of a survey
made to the Alexandria City Coun-
Gil last night.
The report, made by Francis P.
Hitler of the National Probation
Association, was authorized by the
Council at the request of the Coun-
Gil of Social Agencies, following
protests from civic organizations
against the facilities for OBTAINING
children.
Mr.. Hillyer recommended that:
A family boarding home detention
system be organized by the Depart
ment of Public Welfare for the use
OF the Police Department and the
court, with two homes, one for white
and one for colored children.
Adequate quarters for the court
and Police Department be provided,
separate from the Police Court, and
male probation officer be en-
ployed.
Children taken into custody by
the police be taken at once to the
probation department and dates set
for hearings by the court rather
than by the police.
Thorough physical and mental ex.
aminations of children be made.
Complaints of neglect be investi-
gated by the Department of Public
Welfare and policewoman be en-
ployed to take action where chill
dren are neglected.
Advisory Committee Urged.
A committee representing agencies
concerned be appointed to consider
the report and cooperate with the
court and the city government in
securing action and a permanent
advisory committee be appointed by
the judge of the Juvenile and Do
mistic Relations Court.
Mr.. Killers report points out that
although Virginia law forbids de-
tanning children in a Jail or station
house, the only available accommo-
dations in Alexandria are two small
rooms in the police station.
He disapproved of the suggestion
previously made by certain civic
groups that the old almshouse be
converted into a detention home for
juveniles and women because the
building is too large for the number
of cases needing detention, that it
would degenerate into an institu-
ton for longtime care and that
the expense of remodeling and up
keep is cut of all proportion to the
need.
He added that the idea of de-
tanning children in the same build
ing with delinquent women should
be rejected.
Court Setup Hit.
The report recommended that the
foster home system be set up by
the Department of Public Welfare
for cases where it is absolutely
necessary to detain children because
of unsatisfactory home conditions,
or because they are needed as wit
nesSes and their parents cannot be
relied on to produce them in court.
Children whose release pending trial
might endanger public safety or
whose detention is necessary for
observation and study could also
be held.
With regard to the Juvenile Court
itself, the report questions whether
the purpose and spirit of the Jul
venile Court are being observed
when they are as closely associated
with the Police Court as they are
in Alexandria.
Mr.. Hitler objected to the need
for making children and parents
wait sometimes for hours outside
the Police Courtroom until their
case can be heard.
Other Recommendations.
His recommendations included
separate quarters for the probation
officer, possibly in the foster home,
with definite hours set when the
! Judge could visit the home for hear
ings.
He maintained that the probation
officer does not have sufficient time
to handle all the juvenile and do
nestle relations cases in addition
10 supervising cnlldren on prOba-
ton and suggests in addition to the
present woman officer male proba-
ton officer and a full time secretary.
The need for a detailed physical
and mental examination of children
is stressed, with the added recon-
mendation that juvenile cases be
settled out of court wherever pos
! sible.
Investigation of neglect cases by
the Department Of Public Welfare
rather than by the probation off,
Ger was suggested because of the
specialized training of workers in
that department as well as with
view to relieving the probation
officer.
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