Evening star., 1943-05-14
Plans Launched
ToCurb Juvenile
Delinquency
'Khoki-Wocky Girls
One Problem Here,
Leaders Are Told

Specific plans to combat the
alarming increase in juvenile de-
linquency here are expected to be
made by civic and law enforcement
groups, following a meeting last
night in the Chamber of Commerce
auditorium at which the problem
was discussed.
Sponsored by the Federation of
Citizens Associations and the Dis
trict Council of Social Agencies, the
meeting was attended by more than
500 persons.
Judge Fay L. Bentley of Juvenile
Court decried housing conditions
here. asserting that it was an i'm
portant factor in influencing the
lives of children. She said WASH
ingtons housing is as bad as she
once found in the slum- infested
Chicago stockyard district where
she started her career as a social
worker.
School Programs Criticized.
Criticism OF school programs also
was voiced by Judge Bentley. who
declared that under the present sys-
tenn children are not allowed to de-
velop according to their ability.
In addition to these conditions.
Judge Bentley blamed wartime rest
lessness and unsupervised homes as
contributing to the courts 9 per cent
increase in juvenile cases last year
A plea for wholesome recreation
centers for teen-age youngsters was
made by DR.. James A Nolan, direc-
tor of the Criminal Justice Associa-
ton.
He said that war has put the spot
light on the soldier and we find
girls going khakl-Wacky
Denying that he favored cur
few, DR. Nolan said that would
only hide crimes instead of stop
ping them.
Shortage of Police Cited.
Capt. Rhoda j Milliken. director
of the Police Wonens Bureau. said
that she regretted that because of
wartime conditions local police were
unable to assign more men to the
juvenile problem.
Capt Milliken called the in
tolerant attitude of many child
less adults a great hindrance to
the solution to child delinquency.
First Assistant Supt of Schools
Garnet c. Wilkinson said a recent
poll of Junior high school teachers
showed that broken homes and
bad environment were the most
important factors contributing to
child crime. He urged greater home
and school supervision.
The lack of manpower in the Juve-
nile Court to handle the increasing
volume of cases was stressed by Miss
Katharine Lenroot. chief of the La
Dor Departments Childrens Bureau.
Miss Lenroot added. Il hope that
var interest in Juvenile delinquency
might be used as iumping-of point
from which to work to see that all
children have their chance for men-
tai. spiritual and social growth and
decent, satisfying life
Teen-Age Crime Increases.
John j. Mcclure of the Justice
Department reminded the audience
of the sharp increase of. crime among
l8-year-olds last year.
For the first time in our recorded
history boys and girls of Is last year
were responsible for more crimes
than any other age group he said
Mr.. MCGUIRE stressed the impor-
tance of parental duties in prevent
Ing these crimes, adding that the
church could also do its part.
Charles NJ FEfe. director of the
Boys Clubs of Washington. also en-
phasized the need for more religious
guidance
Law Course Favored.
Inclusion of a law course in the
public school curriculum so that
children would realize when they
are breaking laws. was urged by
Judge Vincent J. Austin of Prince
Georges County.
The meeting adopted resolution
urging preservation of youth leader
personnel by raising salaries and
draft deferment. Another resolu-
tion adopted urged the press, radio
and private agencies to further pub
licize information about existing rec
reation facilities that may be used
by children.
Harry S. Wender, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
presided over the meeting