Evening star., 1949-10-10
Lioht on Crime Conditions

Because of the change in crime-report-
ing procedures last year, it is dihlcuit
to get an accurate picture OF recent crime
trends in the District. But local law
enforcement authorities agree that law
lessness is still major problem in Wash
ington-a problem so acute as to induce
the retiring grand jury to issue an extra
ordinary report on the subject. 1t Is
welcome news, therefore, that members
of Congress plan to carry on the good
work begun by the grand jury.
Assuming that the proposed House in
vestigation of crime conditions IN Wash
ington is not just Notwithstanding
expedition-and there is nothing to in
dicate that it is motivated by anything
but a sincere desire to improve law en-
forcement here-much good may come
Of the inquiry. State grand juries are
not limited, as District grand juries are,
IN what they may report regarding gen.
eral crime conditions and shortcomings
Of the law enforcement system. Such
grand juries are in a position to maintain
vigilance over enforcement officials and
bring pressure for needed reforms. Here,
however, the courts have held that the
grand Jurors mission is to indict or ignore
In particular cases. The recent grand
Jury was so alarmed over the prevalence
of crime in the Capital, however, and
especially over the apparent ease with
which repeated offenders escape adequate
punishment, that it authorized its fore
man to take the unusual step Of releasing
q critical report.
The congressional inquiry proposed by
Representative Davis Of Georgia, chair
man of the House District Subcommittee
on Police and Fire Department Affairs,
will not be restricted, as the grand jury
was, in its investigations and its recon-
mendations. The grand jury's critical
comments about leniency shown hardened
criminals by some judges deserve special
attention of the legislators. The grand
jury's criticisms are borne out by several
cases which have been given publicity in
past Notwithstanding traffic repeat
ers," sex offenders and other habitual law
violators.
Crime conditions in Washington may
be no worse than in any other large city,
but they are bad enough to disturb the
most law-abiding citizens generally and
to spur such organizations as the Wash
ington Criminal Justice Association to
seek causes and cures. Even though sta
tistical comparisons of crime here and In
other cities are not reliable, the situation
locally leaves much to be desired. There
has been ill-concealed friction at times
between police and prosecutors. Occa-
sionally both of these enforcement arms
have felt that the courts have not given
them full support in their fight on crime.
Conversely, some judges have been critical
of police or prosecutors. And all agencies
have complained of inadequate personnel
to do their respective jobs efficiently.
# the planned inquiry is able to throw
light on these problems, to fix respon-
sibilities and to point the way toward
better law enforcement here, it will have
rendered an important service to the
people of Washington. To achieve this
goal, however, the committee should see
to it that its hearings are conducted in
an objective atmosphere, devoid OF politi-
cal overtones and publicity seeking