Evening star., 1953-10-04
What Happens
To Juveniles
After Arrest?
Queries Raised
By Committee for
Probe Aeendo
By Miriom Ottenbero

committee on juvenile offenders
last night pinpointed at least
half a dozen areas Of inquiry in
their forthcoming probe of what
happens to young delinquents
after their arrest.
A Star survey indicated that
members of the group named
Friday by Commissioner Samuel
Spencer are most interested in
Juvenile Court processes. They
also raised questions, however,
about youngsters being released
without going to court and about
training given in institutions.
In another development, Com
missioner Spencer said in his
recent radio interview over
WWDC that he believed police
should be told by Juvenile Court
what happens to offenders sent
to court as far as this is possible
in view of the secrecy aspects of
the Juvenile Court law.
Eyes on Special Problem.
Juvenile Court Judge Edith H.
Cockrill has said she has the au-
thority to give police this infor-
nation but would want to know
what they want to use it for and
what safeguards would be placed
around it. At present, police
have no way of knowing whether
a boy they arrest remains in the
community or goes to an insti-
tuition.
Some members of the new in
Vestigating group expressed in
terest in that problem.
The group. chosen from the
Districts new Council on Law
Enforcement. is headed by New
ell w. Ellison of the District Bar
Association. It also includes
United States Attorney Leo A.
Rover; Leroy H. Mckinney of
the Washington Bar Association:
George c. Clarke, president of
the Washington Criminal Justice
Association and Donald Clemmer,
head Of the Department Of Cor
rections.
Questions Raised.
Mr.. Ellison expects to call his
first meeting this week. Mem
berS emphasized that they were
speaking individually in raising
these questions they hope to
have answered by the study:
/. The arrest of first offenders
in less serious cases. If police
decide not to send the case to
Juvenile Court, is any effort
made to refer the boy to an
agency that might work to pre-
vent further misdeeds or insure
some form of follow-up supervi-
sion?
2. The arrest of boys charged
with more serious offenSeS. On
what basis do police decide
whether to turn the boy over to
his parents or take him to the
Receiving Home?
3. The length of time between
the boys arrest and his appear
ance before the judge, if his case
ever reaches the judge. How is
boy made to realize the serious
ness of his offense when an aver
age of two months elapses before
he sees the judge? Why does it
take two months? What meas
ures can be taken to deter the
boy from committing other Of
fenses-as some boys now do
while their cases are pending in
Juvenile Court?
Who Makes Decision?
4. The roles played by the So
cial workers and the Assistant
Corporation Counsel in deciding
whether the case should go to
the judge. What is the basis OF
the decision and who makes 1t?
5. The question of whether
Juvenile Court should waive
Jurisdiction in the cases OF more
of the older boys arrested re-
peatedly or for grave oftenses.
On what basis is the decision
made to waive or not to waive,
and how soon after the arrest?
6. The disposition of the case
by the Judge of Juvenile Court.
On what basis is the decision
made to put a boy on probation,
to send him to the National
Training School for Boys or to
commit him to the Welfare De-
partment?
7. The boy sent to an insti-
tuition. What training does he
get toward the goal of releasing
him with fewer anti-Social ten
denotes than he had when he
came in? On what basis is he
released and how soon? What
supervision does he get after his
release?
One member of the group said
he wanted to explore the pos
sibility of a preliminary hearing
for juveniles before the judge,
such as is given promptly in
adult cases. BY this method, he
said. at least the juvenile would
be made to realize the serious
ness of the situation and might
be deferred from further of
fenses while his case is pending.
Another member said he had
the impression the judge was
overworked and that second
judge, with an adequate increase
in staff. might be considered.
ARA ~