Evening star., 1954-01-14
State Compdcts
Urged TO- Fight
Delinquency
Justice Department
Aides Testify at
Senate Hearing
By Miriom Ottenberq

authorize interstate compacts
so the States and the District
can help each other in dealing
with juvenile delinquents.
James v. Bennett. director OF
the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
who made the proposal to the
Senate Juvenile Delinquency sub
committee today. said such COM
pacts would have these effects
/. Several States which can
not afford to build and operate
needed institutions for juveniles
could get together and share an
institution. He cited the Dis
trict's delinquents. formerly
housed at the National Training
School for Girls. and suggested
that, with an interstate COM
pact, the District, Virginia and
Maryland could perhaps operate
one facility.
2. Interstate compactS might
facilitate the return of juvenile
offenders who operate across
State lines.
New York Setup Cited.
8. States could share in the
operation of narcotics facilities
for young people. Mr.. Bennett
pointed out that New York has
a special institution for juvenile
addicts and that if New Jersey
could use the facility it would
help both States.
4. Compacts could facilitate
preventative work by having
youth councils that cross State
lines
5. Through compacts, one
State could agree to enforce
non-support court orders from
another State. Mr.. Bennett re-
ported that approximately 750.-
600 children are receiving public
aid largely because of deserting
fathers.
Mr.. Bennett said such COM
pacts would cost the Federal
Government little money out
side of fostering the develop
ment Of the compacts.
Would Cut Red Tape.
The Federal Prison Director
also recommended legislation to
eliminate red tape in getting
juvenile offenders who violate
Federal laws returned to their
State. He said that for lack OF
machinery to get them home
they either have to be released or
convicted of a Federal crime.
Deputy Attorney General Will
liam P. Rogers told the subcom-
mittee that during 1854 approx
imately l million children will
be dealt with by the police. OF
the 2,544 boys and girls under
18 arrested by Federal agents
last year. he reported. automo-
bile thefts and check frauds &C
counted for about 80 per cent
Of the offenses.
Mr. Rogers emphasized that
the Justice Department believe:
control of juvenile delinquency i:
primarily the responsibility oi
the home communities. He sale
it has been Justice Department
policy to divert these case!
wherever possible to local Law
enforcement officials.
Facilities Often Unavailable.
Like Mr.. Bennett, however
Mr.. Rogers pointed out that tn
States don't always have ade
quate facilities, nor do they al
ways want to accept the juve
niles because of the costs O
transportation.
Mr.. Rogers reported that tn
Justice Department has speede
operation of the new Youth Cor
rections Act. which provides fo
special treatment of offender
under % who violate Fedora
laws. He emphasized that tn
new law gives the judges create
f1exibility in sentencing tn
young offenders.
A technique for handlin
young offenders without givin
them records was described b
Harold M. Kennedy, who wa
United States Attorney in Brook
lyn from 1888 to 1914 and the
Federal judge there until
entered private practice last yea
Juveniles Get Second Chance
Under the Brooklyn plal
Judge Kennedy reported, prom
ising youngsters were given ar
other chance. The United State
attorney would agree to deft
prosecution for year and the
drop the prosecution if tt
youth got into no further trol
BILE. Judge Kennedy reporte
that since the plan went int
operation in 1888, between 81
and 400 youths have gor
through this procedure ar
none of them have got into sui
sequent trouble.
Mr.. Bennett gave the commi
tee a statistical report on j,
venile violators of Federal Law
which showed these highlight
OF the 400 youths parole
from Federal institutions in 1876
a total Of 1874 or 47.4 per Gel
violated their parole. In the la
five years. parole violation wa
rants have been issued for Sc
per cent of the 1929 paroled.
The largest number of you'll
coming into Federal institution
are runawayS. OF the 155 juv,
niles who were committed to Il
National Training School +,
taking stolen car across Sta
lines, SO were runaways at IL
time they did it. -.
OF the 745 juveniles committe
to Federal institutions in 1876
IS per cent had at least one pr,
vious commitment.
Foirmont Heights PTA