Evening star., 1943-05-14
Plans Mapped 10 Curb
Juvenile Delinquency,
Khaki -Wacky Girls
Housing Conditions Here
DepIored as Worse Than
Chicago SIum Area

Specific plans to combat the
alarming increase in juvenile de-
linquency here are expected to be
made by civic and law enforcement
groups. following 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 decred housing conditions
here, asserting that it was an i'm
portant factor in influencing the
lives of chilaren. She said Wash
lngton's 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 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 khaki-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 Women's 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 Children's Bureau.
Miss Lenroot added, Il hope that
war interest in juvenile delinquency
might be used as a jumping off point
from which to work to see that all
children have their chance for men,
tai, spiritual and social growth and
a decent, satisfying life"
Teen-Age Crime Increases.
John J. MCGUIRE of the Justice
Department reminded the audience
of the sharp increase of crime among
1S-year-olds last year.
For the first time in our recorded
history boys and girls of 18 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 M. Fyfe, director of the
Boys Clubs of Washington, also en-
phasized the need for more religious
guidance.
Inclusion OF law course in the
public school curriculum so that
children would realize when they