Evening star., 1953-12-22
Rover Seekinu
Full Jurisdiction
In Youth Trials
Will Druft New Bill
Changing Present
Juvenile Procedure
By Miriom Ottenberq

Rover COQay COlo Cne senate Jus
venile Delinquency Subcommit-
tee that "for the protection Of
the community" he wants the
exclusive right to decide whether
juveniles who commit serious
crimes should be tried in juvenile
or adult court.
1t was the first time that Mr..
Rover has gone on record TO
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Delinquency Witnesses List Health,
School and Welfare Needs. Pose B-l
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have this power transferred
from the Juvenile Court judge
to the United States attorney
and he made his point in Wig
orous terms.
Before he was through, Chair
man Hendrickson of the subcom-
mittee, asked Mr.. Rover to have
his staff draft a proposed statute
on the waiver power for the sub
committee.
Criticizes Delays.
Mr. Rover dispensed quickly
with arguments advanced last
Friday by Juvenile Court Judge
Edith H. Cockrill that his Office
lacks the staff to make the social
investigations that her court
makes before deciding whether
she should waive jurisdiction
over youth.
This business of waiting a
month or two months to decide
whether ITO prosecute a youth
for crime of violence is utter
absurdity," Mr.. Rover declared.
THE United States attorney,
with proper cooperation, ought
to be able to make up his mind
in 48 hours whether youth
should be tried in District Court
or Juvenile Court"
BY proper cooperation he said
he meant that the Juvenile Court
should be required to turn over
to him any social reports or in
vestigation data previously ac-
quired about the youth. II he
was not previously known to the
court, Mr.. Rover added, Juvenile
Court officers should make the
investigation for him since both
courts are interested in law en-
forcement.
Wants Fun Power.
He said he wanted no mis-
understanding about his posi-
ton. He made it clear that he
does not want a partial voice
in these decisions but wants the
power vested exclusively in his
Office.
II think the United States at
torney. of course, would make
his decision after conferences
with police and court officials"
he explained. "but I am not in
favor of merely giving the
United States Attorney a con-
curing voice. He should have
the final say or no say. We
have no time in our Office to be
sitting around in conferences
deciding whether a youth should
be prosecuted for a crime Of
violence
Mr.. Rover said an offenders
youth should not be the sole
determining factor in where he
is tried.
Women who are raped are
just as much outraged by IT.
year-old youth as by 34-year-
old man." Mr.. Rover said.
People who are held up at
gunpoint are just as frightened
and their lives are just as much
in danger if the gun is held by
a 17-year-old or by a 40-year-
old"
Cites 'Trigger-Happy' Youths
The prosecuting attorney said
he agreed with Senator Hen
nings. Democrat, of Missouri.
when the later observed that
youth less experienced in crime
are inclined to be more trigger
happy" than older and more
experienced offenders.
Mr.. Rover was asked by Act
ing Subcommittee Counsel Her.
bert BeaSer whether he had
made his waiver recommended
ton because of the lack of ade-
quate facilities for confining
such offenders as 17-year-old
rapist or because of the failure
on the part of Juvenile Court"
Mr.. Rover replied that the
(See DELINQUENCY, Page A-3J