Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-08
D. Crime Rate
In '46 Highest
In Nine Years
Guin Is Typical
Of Rise in Motion,
Report DiscIosess

NiSS III iNVtfVHS
Report DiscIoses
More serious crimes were COM
United In Washington last year than
in any year since 1887, the WASH
Ing Criminal Justice Association
said in its 18th annual report re-
leased today.
The association had no fault to
md with the Districts police work
but 1t called for an increase in po-.
lice personnel and better facilities
to give adequate protection" to the
people Of Washington.
The report noted that the police
cleared $500, or $50 per cent OF the
6,159 serious offenses, reported dur
ing 1916. In 1915 the police cleared
Sc per cent Of the cases.
The serious crimes increased,
however, by 28 per cent over 1945.
Therefore, although the percentage
OF cleared cases remained about the
same. the report noted, the police
actually cleared 1,027 more cases in
1916 than in 1945.
Many Cases Still Open.
The report called attention to the
1859 serious cases still open at the
end of 1916. While 1t conceded that
some Of them would be closed in
1947, 1t commended that the open
cases demonstrated the need for
more police.
The increase in crime here, the
association said, was typical of the
increase noted in most cities during
the past two years. This nation
wide increase in crime was attribu-
ted to the unrest following a war,
displacement of persons from war
jobs, availability of weapons, eco
nomic hardships resulting from high
living costs: for marginal income
groups, the return of much of the
male population to civilian life and
the maturing OF wartime juvenile
offenders into adult offenders.
While some returning veterans
will participate in crime, the asso-
citation said, ''it would seem to be
indicated that most of the criminal
population Is composed of mall
adjusted persons who were civilians
during the war rather than the
returning veteran"
Figures Offered.
In following serious crimes from
police action through the courts,
the report also noted:
The greatest volume of crimes
occurred in precincts z, and 10, in
that order. The seventh. precinct
had the least crime.
The number of serious offenses
cleared by the arrest of juveniles
was the greatest ever recorded by
the association, although it was a
very slight increase over the previous
year.
4 The work of District Court during
the 1916 fiscal year was handled
expeditiously despite the many han
dicaps in physical facilities and per-
sonnet shortages"
Most District Court cases were
disposed of with a minimum loss of
time consistent with the best in
terests of the Government and the
accused"
The backlog of cases awaiting trial
was considerably reduced and most
of those still pending were the result
OF causes which would classify them
as untriable. Among the untriable
cases were those involving persons
vito had been indicated but were
fugitives from justice.
The association noted an increase
In every type of offense, but found
the greatest increases among such
crimes as HOUSEKEEPING, grand
larceny, robbery, aggravated assaults
and homicides.
Serious sex crimes increased from
50 in 1916 to As in 1915. A chart
showing the disposition of cases re-
vealed that while arrests were made
in A out of the IS sex cases, only
five cases wound up with District
Court convictions.
Police Commended.
The association report particu-
larly commended the Police De-
partments record of cleared homi-
eide cases. A total of LOG homicides
were reported in 1916, as compared
with s. In 1945. OF the 1916 cases
reported, IL were cleared by the
suicide OF the murderer, 40 were
classified as justifiable hQmicides
by q coroner's jury. In all 81 homi-
eide cases were cleared by the end
OF 1916. This record, the report
pointed out, includes the solution
Of some very difficult cases"
During 1916 a total Of 1853 cases
were closed by the arrest of juve-
niles. The largest increase in juve-
nile arrests came In the 18th pre-
cinct. The association commented
that the present plan to divide the
18th precinct into two precincts
should help to prevent juvenile de-
linquency.
The association reiterated Its
previous warnings that existing
facilities for the care and treat
ment Of juveniles are grossly in
adequate"
Unless the community can pro-
vide for its present and potential
delinquents through well-rounded
preventative and treatment pro-
gram" the report added, 'it will
pay eventually with more crime
and bigger prisons"
In its review of District Court,
the association noted that during
1916, 1910 cases were disposed of.
OF the indictments returned, more
than half were settled by q plea of
guilty. OF the cases actually tried
nv the court. more than tWo.thirds