Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-17


The association expressed "seri-
GUS concern" over the marked in
crease in narcotics indictments
During the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1949, the report noted
there were 10 indictments for
narcotics violations as compared
with 81 such indictments during
the fiscal year ending June 80
1850. or an increase of over 40o
per cent.
The District, the report COM
mented, has been mentioned fire.
quently as being too lenient in
the treatment of narcotics offend
ers.
Crimes Generally Decrease.
Edward ]. Flynn, managing di-
rector of the association, said thai
the outstanding crime problem!
facing the District are the mum.
Der of felonious sex offenses, the
increase in narcotics violation!
and the volume of serious Of.
lenses committed by juveniles.
The overall report showed de.
crease of "A per cent in seriou!
crimes committed here during
1850. There were 11,601 seriou,
offenses reported during 1850 a.
compared with 12,137 during thu
previous year.
The police cleared 1854, or g.:
per cent of the serious offense.
reported in 1850, as compared
with 59.8 per cent during 1949, tn,
report noted. This, the repor
added, represents a higher per.
centage of cases closed than il
any other year since the change
in crime reporting procedures il
1948 and is Considerably higher
than the crime solution rate il
many similar cities.
ALI Homicides Closed.
The association reported that O.
the "a homicides reported in 1850
all were closed; of the PIT case.
OF rape, carnal knowledge or at.
tempts to commit either offense
POI or $40 per cent were closed
of the ITS other felonious sex Of
lenses such as incest, and perver
sion covered under Public Law
615, the police closed 96 per cent.
OF the crimes of greatest FIRE
quency. the report said. there wer
4,214 aggravated assaults Of which
83.5 per cent were cleared; 3,48!
housebreakings, of which 1914 pc
cent were cleared, and 1879 case
of grand larceny of which &c.;
per cent were cleared.
The report carried these othe
highlights:
OF those arrested, 20.9 per cen
were aged II or younger and an.
other "a per cent were between
10 and 20 years. The total mum
Der of juveniles arrested showed
a decrease but this was attributed
to the procedures of the Juvenil.
Squad in returning some juvenile.
to their homes without placinf
official charges.
Indictment Decrease 81 Per Cent
The total of 2,109 indictment.
returned during the 1850 fisca
year represents a 81 per cent in.
crease over the 1868 indictments
during the previous fiscal year
This would seem to indicate thai
a greater proportion of offense.
Originally reported as felonies arr
being presented to the grand jury
flor Indictment rather than being
disposed Of as lesser offenses ir
Municipal Court.
On the other hand, in some case.
disposed Of by plea of guilty ii
District Court. the plea has beer
Ito a lesser offense than that II
the indictment. There were 18(
such pleas in the 1850 fiscal veal
as compared with al In the previ.
Gus year. There were also Al case.
in which the judge or jury foune
the offender guilty of a lesser
charge than that carried in The
indictment.
OF the 2,109 indictments re.
turned. LOST were disposed of ii
District Court by guilty pleas. SO;
Iby findings of guilt. 129 by acquit.
ltal, 297 by dismissal or noll,
lprosse, 26 were transferred tt
lother Jurisdictions, IS defendant
were found OF unsound mind ant