Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-28
City Heads Due
To Back Rover
Juvenile Bill
Prosecutor Would
Control Trial of
Older DeIinquents
By Miriom Ottenbero

-
The District Commissioners
probably will go along with the
bill introduced this week to give
the United States Attorney-in-
stead Of the Juvenile Court judge
the power to decide whether
older juveniles accused Of serious
crimes should be tried as juve-
niles or adults.
This was indicated today after
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
predicted the report Of the Coun-
Gil on Law Enforcement would be
given favorable consideration by
the Commissioners.
The council, which is headed
by Mr.. Spencer, recommended
numerous changes in law and
procedure governing juvenile
caseS-including one to give the
prosecutor the waiver power now
exercised exclusively by the Ju-
venile Court judge.
Has Not Studied Bill.
Mr.. Spencer said he had not
yet studied the bill intro
duced Monday by Representative
O'Hara. Republican, Of Mime
sofa, but he assumed it covered
the same points approved by the
law enforcement council. He
said he didn't see any reason
at this time to draft another
bill to reach the same objective.
On "Your Commissioners Re-
port" on Station WMAL-TV last
night, Mr.. Spencer said he was
impressed with the councils
recommendations. He said the
Commissioners will review them
as soon as possible to see which
require new law and which can
be accomplished through regu-
lationS.
The council is supposed to re-
port to Congress at the begin
ming Of each session and its
report is expected to be sent up
by February /.
Drafted by Rover.
The O'Hara bill was drafted
by United States Attorney Leo
A. Rover. The prosecutor ex-
planned that he had been asked
by the Senate Juvenile Delin-
quency subcommittee to draft
such bill and later got a sim
liar request from Representative
OHara. He SAID he sent Mr..
O'Hara copy of the draft fur
nished the Senate group.
The proposal approved by the
law enforcement council still
would enable the Juvenile Court
judge to waive jurisdiction over
a case on her own initiative.
That provision is not included
in the O'Hara bill, which lodges
the sole discretion in the United
States attorney. ~.
Both the council proposal and
the O'Hara bill affect the same
groups on whom jurisdiction now
can be waived-16 and II year
Odds accused of felonies and
youths of any age accused of
capital crimes.
Mr.. Rover said, however, that
he would not expect police to
send him every case meeting
those requirements. He said GER
tain criteria would be set up
between police and the prosecu-
tors Office specifying the types
of cases which might be consid-
cred for trial in Federal District
Court.
First Offender Cited.
Mr.. Rover cited a boy nearing
II whose only previous trouble
had been truancy and who be-
came involved with a house.
breaking gang. Such a first Of
fender, he said, probably should
NC LIEU III OuNC4111C AOu1 L.
Like the council proposal, the
O'Hara bill emphasizes that the
prosecutor should consider the
Juveniles background as provided
by a social study conducted by
the Juvenile Court staff. The
O'Hara bill says these factors
should be considered:
The age Of the child; the fam
lily background; whether the
felony with which the child is
charged is characterized by ag-
gravated circumstances; whether
the child has been involved in
any previous violations of the
law; whether on consideration of
the family background of the
child there appears a likelihood
Of rehabilitation under parental
supervision or whether previous
efforts. if any. by the Juvenile
Court authorities toward reha-
Utilization of the child have met