Evening star., 1948-06-19

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D. c. Figures Reflect
National Experience
Juvenile Court noted q drop In
juvenile delinquency cases during
the 1o47 fiscal year, but q new high
in dependency cases, Judge Fay L.
Bentley, reported to the White
House yesterday.
The annual rep6rt, transmitted
to Congress, indicated there were
i2,828 delinquency cases during the
year ended June 80, 1947, as COM
pared with $3.50 in the previous year
and 3, $50 cases during. the peak year
of 1914.
Dependency cases during the fiscal
year totaled SIT, as compared with
$50 handled in the previous year.
Judge Bentley said the rise in the
number Of dependency cases and
the drop in delinquency complaints
Is typical Of juvenile courts ex-1
perience throughout the country"
War Marriages Blamed.
She suggested the instability of
many wartime marriages and the
marked rise in the birth rate after
the war may have some effect on
the number Of children coming to
the attention Of the court in de-
pendency and neglect cases.
More awareness on the part Of
the public Of the needs of children
led to constructive programs Of
recreational activities and various
re1eted services, the report said,
tending to offset the conditions
which make for juvenile delin-
quency. The jurist pointed out,
however, that during the depression
years of the sos many parents, for
economic reasons, were unable to
assume additional responsibilities Of
parenthood and the number Of
children born during those years
was smaller than usual.
Since the juvenile delinquent gen.
orally is in the teen age group, the
decrease in juvenile delinquency may
reflect to some extent that birth
rate decline, she wrote.
Future Danger Seen.
# so, then one would expect that
juvenile delinquency may have q
very marked increase during the
decade 1950-1960 unless aggressive
community action is taken to pre-
vent this occurring" the jurist de-
clared.
Judge Bentley asked for the es-
tablishment Of q statistics depart
ment in the court and for at least
two automobiles for the use Of pro-
baton officers.
She listed the following commu-
nifty needs:
Rapid expansion Of low-cost hous-
ing to relieve over-crowding and
separtion of families.
More Elementary Schools.
More schools for the elementary
grades to keep up with the in
creased number Of children.
4 Adequate funds for the Public
Assistance Division of the Board OF
Public Welfare to provide greater
aid to INDECENT families and pre-
vent their breakup.
A large stan for the Protective
Service Unit of the Board Of Public
Welfare for case work service to
families in which children are neg
lected or dependent.
Increased funds for the Board
Of Public Welfare for If to obtain
additional foster homes.
Construction Of security units In
the District Training School for
proper rehabilitation of feeble-mind-
ed children.
Most Cases Were Boys.
! Among the delinquency complaints
handled, 86.5 per cent, or 2,440 in
volved boys.
This does not mean, the report
pointed out, that behavior problems
OF girls are less serious than those
of boys, but one factor is that the
community has some reticence about
bringing complaints against girls
out into the open.
Stealing was the main cause of
referral to the court, with 1000 cases
and being ungovernable" was next
with 355 cases.
The delinquency complaints
against white boys and girls COM
prised 1915 per cent of the total
and the rest were against colored
children.
Collections Increased.
The court collected during the
fiscal year the largest amount of
money in its history-$320, 1862. a
20 per cent increase over the pre-
ceding year, when $265,62S.27 was
collected.
In her report, DR.. Lily Brunschwig,
psychologist in the Guidance Clinic,
said the clinic Is handicapped by the
lack of regularly assigned psychi-
artist and desires addition to the
staff of trained group therapist.
Soroptomists Give $500
IT. M