Evening star., 1946-06-25
New Penal Unit
ToSift Juvenile
Problem Here
Hebert Heads Group
Seeking Ways to
Combat Delinquency

Plans were under way today for
the newly organized committee on
permanent penal legislation for the
District to consider, among other
problems, the pressing need for new
methods of dealing with juvenile
delinquents here.
James v. Bennett, director of the
Federal Bureau of Prisons, named
vice chairman of the committee at
q meeting in the House District
Committee room late yesterday, sug-
gested that a study be made of the
juvenile boards which several States
have given wide power over youth
full delinquents.
Representative Hebert, Democrat,
of Louisiana, who headed the House
District Subcommittee which re-
Gently Investigated District Jail and
recommended the committee on per-
manent legislation, was made chair
man of the new group. Mr.. Hebert
accepted the post reluctantly after
making a futile effort to persuade
Chief Justice Bolitha j. Laws of
District Court to take the chairman
ship. Justice Laws said pressure of
court work would make it impos-
sible for him to head the committee,
although he would be glad to serve
on it and give it the benefit of his
judicial experience.
Committee Members.
Other members of the committee
are Edgar Morris, chairman of the
Board of Public Welfare, and Cor
poration Counsel Vernon E. West.
In calling the committee together
to organize, Mr.. Hebert explained
the stop-gap legislation which the
congressional subcomittee had con-
sidered necessary in view of recent
jailbreaks had passed Congress and
was awaiting the Presidents sigma
ture. This measure sets up de-
partment of corrections, transferring
authority over the prisons from the
Welfare Board to the Commissioners.
It was agreed the committee will
have q report ready for the next
Congress when it meets January 8,
1947. The next meeting will be held
July IL.
Mr.. Bennett stressed juvenile de-
linquency as the most serious crime
problem which Washington, along
with other large cities, faces.
Youth Authorities Set Up.
In number of States, he pointed
out, youth authorities have been set
up. Juvenile offenders are turned
over to these boards by the courts
and they have power to grant super
vised probation, to commit young
offenders to an institution or, If the
medical examination so indicates, to
a mental hospital or home for the
feeble-minded. In this way, he ex-
planned, children who get into trouble
are not placed with older offenders
and have a real chance to make
good. In New York, he pointed out,
the Youth Conservation Authority,
as 1t Is called, has had considerable
success already.
"As 1t has been," Mr.. Bennett
added. "a judge has had no alterna-
tive but to send boy to jail in the
more serious cases. These authori-
ties are taking over all delinquents
under certain age and determin-
ing what is best in each case. I see
no reason why we shouldn't set up
some such system here. Penologists
all over the country agree that we
are on the right track"
Hebert Halls Cooperation.
Mr.. Hebert thanked the Depart
ment of Justice and the Welfare
Board for their splendid co-opera-
ton in getting the temporary legis-
lation through and in laying plans
for permanent revisions in the Dis
trict penal code.
Eve want to give the District a
long-range program which we hope
will provide a permanent solution
to many penal problems, he said.
1t was indicated at the meeting
that the question of whether the
Districts indeterminate sentence
law should be revised will be taken
up. Many other problems relating
to sentencing, probation, imprison-
ment and parole are expected to
be considered during the coming
months.
The committee was set up and
named by the House District Com
mittee on motion of the Hebert
subcommittee. It's report will be
delivered to the District Committee,
probably in the form of bill which
can be made the basis of hearings
and discussion.