Evening star., 1952-11-01
Something New in Grand Juries

gratifying innovation in grand jury policy
has come to public notice in Prince Georges
County. It is something new to have grand
jury in that Maryland area take its response
bil1tleS as seriously as the one which convened
October g. Most grand juries in the past have
done little more than a perfunctory lob of
investigating crime in the county Some, judging
by their reports, have been more concerned with
denylng published reports OF gambling and other
aaWlesSnesS than in investigating to see If the
reports had any foundation. The past juries
usually have considered their task done after
p short session in which only routine cases were
presented.
p The October grand jury at Marlboro is
fefreshingly different It has not only con-
sidered routine criminal cases brought to its
attention by prosecutors, but has delved into
many phases of the crime problem in Prince
Georges on its own initiative. It has scrutinized
zthe -law-enforcement machinery-and found it
wanting in some respects. 1t has even studied
operations OF the county government in numer-
Gus neldS outside Of law enforcement.
= Most important of all, the grand jury has
Served notice that it has found indications of
some gambling, some corruption, some collu-
sion and some inefficiences' and that it intends
TO continue its Investigations until the wrong
.doerS are found or the reports refuted. Instead
sot closing its books after a cursory look at con-
al t11S Cou4lCy-dS SOIle OF 1LS predecessors
Ehave done-this jury has informed the court
{ that it intends to consider itself on active duty
: until its term expires next April. During this
time its members have agreed to continue their
inquiries, both as body and severally, with a
view to SuppreSSing crime and exposing corrup-
tion wherever it may exist
OF special interest at this time is the jurys
statement that many of our prince Georges
-County's) administrative procedures are those
concocted in the horse -and-buggy era" Citizens
of the county will read this part of the report
with an eye to the forthcoming election, in which
they will decide whether or not to adopt a
charter for a modernized form of home rule.
What effect the grand jury's comments may
have on the referendum is hard to say. While
the charterites will find ammunition in the
report, defenders of the commission form Of
government can promise modernization under
authority of recent legislation.
The grand jury's criticism of the inadequacy
OF the existing police organization should receive
prior attention of the county government, what
ever changes may be voted. The county's force
today is far under the accepted ratio of police
strength to population. The countys SO police
men must protect community of more than
100000 persons. The grand jury urged an
increase in the force to at least $50 men, more
scout cars and better patrolling of No. high
way, scene of many serious accidents. A number
of other police reforms were proposed
The bodys 16-page report should be given
wide distribution in Prince Georges County. Few
persons were in court when it was presented.
It deserves to be carefully studied by all county
officials and all citizens interested in good
government.