Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-10

Seen for Rover
Juvenile Bill
Shifts Authority
70 Try Minors
In Adult Courts

the United States District Attor-
ney. instead Of Juvenile Court,
decide which youths shall be
prosecuted III adult courts.
Representative o'IIara Re-
publican, of Minnesota, chair
man of the Judiciary Subcom-
mittee of the House District
Committee, said il would be
cleared by the House as q special
order Of business sometime WITH
In the next two weeks. as Con-
gress drives for adjournment.
His prediction followed a. day
long hearing on the bill which
swept the fun range OF philos-
ophy behind crime and punish-
n1ent.
Mr. O,Hara blasted .coddling"
of older juvenile Offenders, de-
claring social service workers
who merely give them d slap
on the wrist" encourage the
youths to become repeaters.
The bill, introduced ii the
House by Mr.. O'Hara. would let
the United States District Attor-
Eey for the District Of Columbia
order youths over 16. accused Of
serious crimes. be tried In Dis
!trict court.
Shaw Voices Opposition.
Meeting Mr.. O'TIara's COM
plant head-on. g. Rowland
Shaw, former State Department
official declared:
1.-THE office OF the United
States Attorney is not the proper
organization to pass on the his
tory of Juvenile delinquents. My
friend. Mr.. Leo "A. Flower. viii
not make the decisions. They
will be up to fairly recently grad
uated young lawyers whose am
bition to succeed will depend on
their records as prosecutors
1 He spoke for the United Com
n1unity Services. the American
Prison Association and the Ma
tional Probation and Parole As
sociati0n. declaring they all OPP
posed the bill. The measure.
he testified. would be q serious
threat to the Juvenile Court sys-
tenn.
Mr.. Shaw rejected sugges-
ton by Representative Hyde, Re-
publican, Of Maryland that re-
cent increases in juvenile delin-
quency reflect the handling of
youngsters under that system.
Cites Potential.
He declared that up to 1000
school pupils here are potential
delinquents because they need
psychiatric care and cannot ret
it from the Districts completely
inadequate institutional setup."
The Industrial Home Schools
here, he said, have been only
a preparatory" school for the
Federal National Training School
for Boys.
Another witness was Corpora
ton Counsel Vernon E. West,
who reported that the measure
was supported by the District
Commissioners, 2 to l, with
Commissioner Spencer opposed.
He also said the Federal Budget
Bureau had reported opposition
from the Departments of Labor
and of Health, Education and
Welfare.
The bill was supported by
John H. Fallon for the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations.
and opposed by Mrs. John Lati-
mer for the District Chapter OF
the League of Women Voters.
In questioning Juvenile Court
Judge Edith Cockrill, subconl-
mittee members. reinforced by
visitors from the House District
Crime Subcommittee, repeatedly
argued there is need for more
cooperation between the court
and police and prosecutors.
Sees Chaos as Alternative.
Mr.. O'Hara said he thinks
both prosecution and law en-
forcement officers should be
present in Juvenile Court when
ever repeated offenders appear
before the court. Without CO.
operation. he said. "You get
chaos
Representative Smith, Demo-
crat, of Virginia, asked the Judge
if she didn't think she could
develop a better liaison with
law enforcement and prosecute
ing officials. She said she was
trying to cooperate.
Mr.. Smith, joined by other
members, wanted to know why
police do not automatically get
information on the courts dis
position of each case.
81 think the police have q
legitimate use for the DISPOSE
ton In some cases." Judge Cock
rill agreed. IF proper safeguards
were put around the information
by police. there is no reason why
they shouldn't have it. I don't
know Of any case where police
have asked for the information
and haven't gotten It,"
DO you think boys who COM
NIT felonies should be safe
guarded from public knowl-
edge?" Mr.. Smith asked.
For Uniform Treatment.
81 think all juveniles whose
cases are not waived ought to be
treated the same way" she re-
piled.
Earlier, Police Chief Robert v.
Murray. testifying in support Of
the bill. said he had no personal
feeling against the judge and
was trying to cooperate with
her for a better understanding.
Like United States Attorney
Rover, Chief Murray said he
favored the change IN the waiver