Evening star., 1950-12-06
A Better Deal for Youthful Criminals

havior on the part of the youth offender.
II the division discharges him uncondi-
tionally before he has served his maxi
mum sentence, the conviction is auto
matically set aside and the whole case
wiped of the books. In other words, the
youngSter can go back to society with
clean slate, without the criminal record
that ordinarily would hang over him for
the rest of his life.
The question naturally arises: Will this
system, progressive as 1t sounds really
work?
In this connection, it has been pointed
out that the law is hardly experimental.
Americans who pride themselves on their
progressiveness might be surprised to
learn that a similar system has been
working in England since 1894 with ex-
cellent results. Five of our States-Can-
fornia, Wisconsin, Minnesota Massa-
chusetts and Texas-have patterned
their own penal systems after it.
California, which started its own pro-
gram with three institutions in 1941, now
has II. Tt has handled more than 10000
youth offenses. During the five years
before the system was put into effect, 50
per cent Of youthful offenders discharged
from correctional institutions committed
new offenses or failed on parole. Since
1941 the percentage has been cut to Is.
Prison authorities are convinced beyond
any doubt that the system works.
Obviously, this program authorized by
Congress is not going to spring, full
blown, into being overnight Turning
its evolutionary-and somewhat revolu
tionary-aspects into a working system
is going to take time.
No offender can be turned over to the
Attorney General until the Director of
Prisons says the system is set up, stated
and ready to go.
Use of the new law will depend en-
tirely on the individual judge. There
is nothing to force judge to turn over
a youth prisoner to the Attorney Cen
eral. AS Judge Laws told the Senate
hearing, "A judge who feels that the
present system is in all respects perfect
and who does not want to use the new
provisions. except perhaps rarely. does
not have to use them"
If he wishes, judge who wants more
information on a convicted youth can
make use of one part Of the program.
without releasing him from the court.
He can send the offender to classif1ca-
ton center for examination, and then
have him returned to the court for SEN
fencing in the regular manner.
To Judge Laws, who fought so hard
for the Youth Corrections Act. there
must be certain irony in the realization
that the District will not be able to share
in it's benefits, at least the way the law
reads now. 1t applies specifically to all
Federal courts in the continental United
States "other than the District Of Co
lumbia and Alaska"
The reason is to be found in Wash
ingtons unique political relationship to
the Federal Government, and the result
ing financial complication of its judicial
and penal systems. Rather than battle
with these details in getting the bill
through Congress last fall, it was con-
sidered wiser to leave the District out
entirely.
But to Judge Laws and others, "it
seems absurd that law which is good
for the whole country shouldn't be good
for the Nations Capital" A committee
is at work on the matter. and it seems
possible that law may be upcoming
that would give the wayward youth Of
Washington an even break with the rest
Of the country.