Evening star., 1943-11-24
Juvenile Court
Considered by
PriinceGeorges
Need Stressed
By Representatives
Of County Groups

AcQuSSt tuAJ juvenile court De
established In Prince Georges Coun-
ty "as soon as possible" was being
considered today by the County
Commissioners.
I More than Is representatives OF
civic, welfare and fraternal organi-
cations In the county appeared be-
fore the commissioners at their
meeting yesterday in Upper Marl-
boro to urge Immediate action" on
the proposal.
Declaring that juvenile court is
needed now" to curb delinquency
in the county, DR.. H. ]. Patterson
chairman of the County Council OF
Social Agencies, pointed out that
the problem is becoming more acute
because Of the population increase
Precedent Cited.
He added that the board will have
ample precedent" in setting up
such a court since seven other
Maryland counties now have ju.
venile courts. They are Allegany
Baltimore. Frederick, Hartford, Tai
bot, Washington and Montgomery
counties.
While supporting DR.. Patterson
Trial Magistrate Alan Bowie warned
that juveniel court must have ade-
quate personnel in order to be effec-
tive
Also needed. Judge Bowie said, is
a place in which to confine delin-
quents. At present, he explained
correctional institutions are over
crowded and there is no detention
home in which to keep delinquent
children while they are awaiting
trial.
Action Urged.
Asserting that a juvenile court
would assure proper supervision OF
delinquents, Trial Magistrate Wal.
ter l.. Green explained that at pres
ent, a county trial magistrate's
court does not even have authority
to commit such children to the
County Welfare Board.
I'VE need immediate action tc
prevent as many children as pos
sible from going wrong" Judge
Green emphasized.
From Dr. Nelson Podolnick. assist
ant county health of1icer, came the
observation that venereal disease is
increasing among girls less than ls
years of age DR.. Podolnick explained
that juvenile court would have
facilities to investigate conditions
causing the spread of the disease.
Others indorsing establishment OF
a juvenile court included Mrs. Doro-
thy Ogburn, executive secretary OF
the County Welfare Board; Col
Caesar l.. Aiello, commander OF the
Ninth Battalion, Maryland State
Guard; the Rev. Thomas B. Ehlers
of the County Ministerial Associa-
ton; DR.. Peter Lejins, professor OF
sociology at the University Of Mary
|iand, and Mrs. Lincoln Clark, presi-
dent OF the County League OF Women
Voters.
Two Oppose Move.
Only opposition to the proposal
came from Judge Vincent Osterman
of the County Orphans Court, and
is. NJ Peach. an attorney.
Judge Osterman said laws and
regulations should be taught in
school where the child would learn
right from wrong in a legal way
He insisted that any child brought
into juvenile court would be
branded a criminal"
Mr.. Peach contended that the
circuit court judges now have au-
thority to act in juvenile cases, and
that establishment of a separate
court would not solve the problem.
The commissioners approved es-
tablishment of a State Health De-
partment laboratory in the county
hospital at Cheverly in response to
a request by DR.. A. Kirk Besley, hos
pital superintendent.
After State Health Department
|oflcials said they would be unable
to contribute toward the mainte-
nance of the laboratory for at least
a year and half, the board said
the county would appropriate ap-
|proximately $500 for this purpose
until the State Health Department
could assume the expense Of en-
ployes' salaries at the laboratory.