Evening star., 1946-11-21
Panel Opposes
failing Child
Conference Urged
To Seek improved
Juvenile Quarters

Detention of delinquent children
awaiting action by juvenile courts in
jail or prisonlike quarters was op-
posed today by a panel of the Ma
tional Conference for the Preven-
ton and Control OF Juvenile Delin-
quency now In session here.
The panel recommended provision
OF better detention homes and that
children be kept in them as short a
time as possible. More capable per-
sonnel also should be obtained. it
was stated.
In addition to the recommenda.
tions on handling delinquents. an
other panel recommended that COM
munity organizations aid family
units in providing for the growing
needs of young people.
Reports Due Tomorrow.
Reports of all Is panels, dealing
with various phases of juvenile de-
llnquency are to be presented to-
morrow to the full conference at the
departmental Auditorium for dis
cussion and action.
The conference, which ends tn.
morrow, is sponsored by Attorney
General Clark and the Justice De-
partment. 1t began yesterday with
message from President Truman.
The Home Responsibility Panel
advocated that community action
should provide for families such
aids as:
Parent education programs. nur-
sery schools and plat groups for
preschool children, family counsel
ing services, cooperative commu.
nifty institutes and conferences on
family life and leaflets and illus
trated books to help families keep
up with new ideas in home living
and child guidance.
Discounts Parental Blame.
The report criticized the attitude
OF blaming parents and young
people in trouble, saying:
Blaming, calling names getting
excited and indignant are senseIess
and useless. One thing is certain.
NOBODY who blames delinquency
ON parents 'on mothers working.
on progressive education ON the
moving pictures or on any other
one cause should be taken seriously"
Inc Detention Facilities Panel
said:
When society jails the youthful
Offenders instead of protecting it
sell from them, it makes them the
more determined. the more dis
trustful, the more cunning and re-
sourcetm in their enmity toward So
ciety.''
800, 1000 Jailed Annually.
The report estimated that 300 600
young people are jailed or sent to
4 detention homes annually. It urged
that some national agency. such as
the Children's Bureau or the Ma
tional Probation Association, pro-
/ vide field consultant service on de-
tention and stimulate interest in
this fleld as profession.
i 1t suggested that each State ex-
anime its juvenile court law ON de-
tention in the light of the standard
act published by the association.
The report declared that often
Jails in which children are confined
have been found unfit for Federal
prisoners.
Meeting in different parts of the
city, the panels are occupying rooms
IN the Departments Of Commerce.
Justice, Treasury, Agriculture and
Interior, the Freer Art Gallery, the
smithsonian Institution, Social
Security Building, Archives Building
and the Departmental Auditorium.
About 1000 delegates from all over
the Nation, representing church.
school, welfare, courts, recreation.
fraternal, social, charitable and
other groups, will have a hand in
decisions of the conference, to be
made tomorrow. The conference was
postponed a month because of
| Washington,S hotel strike