Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-21

Arrest Books
Voices Confidence
Press Will Withhold
Names of Juveniles
President Eisenhower yester-
day signed q bill to make manda-
tory the longtime practice Of
the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment of maintaining open books
on all arrested, but In doing so
urged studies Of how the adult
lists might be separated from
the Juveniles.
After signing the bill he issued
q formal statement in which he
voiced confidence that the press
would continue its practice Of
voluntarily protecting the names
Of arrested juveniles.
He said. however. he was ask
ing city officials ito explore the
feasibility. from an administra-
tive viewpoint. of keeping sep
arate arrest books for children
and adults of juvenile court
age"
The bill. he said. would not
preclude this.
Such a recommendation had
been considered by the House
District Committee on receipt
Of letter from the Department
of Health, Education and We'll
fare.
Text Of Statement.
Following is a text Of President
Eisenhower's statement.
/ have this day approved
S-3655. a bill which makes man
datory the present practice Of
the Police Department In the
District Of Columbia in MAIN
tanning arrest books for all per-
sons taken into custody and
keeping them open to public
inspection.
The purpose of the bill, to
establish by law additional safe
guards against secret arrest, Is
clearly a sound one.
In connection with the appli-
cation Of the bill to police rec
ords for children of Juvenile
Court age--that Is. children un-
der 18-questions have been
raised as to the consistency Of
the bill with special standards
proposed by interested groups.
For example, in its report to
the Council on Law Enforcement
Of the District of Columbia. the
committee on Juvenile Crime
recommended that identifying
information received by the
Police Department on persons
Of Juvenile Court age should be
confined to the files OF the juve-
nile squad and kept confidential.
Similarly. the Senate Commit
tee to Investigate Juvenile De-
1inquency has suggested that
such information be kept by
the police separate and apart
from that relating to older per-
sons and be open to inspection
only by persons having a legiti-
mate interest in it.
Points to Standard Act.
And, the standard Juvenile
Court Act, prepared by the Ma
tional Probation and Parole
Association, provides that police
records of children shall be kept
separate from records Of adults
and shall not be open to public
inspection.
The reason for these recon-
mendations is that publication
Of the identity Of individual
children who are in trouble is
likely to defeat or make more
Adificult the rehabilitation of the
children and tends to undermine
the confidentiality of Juvenile
Court records.
However, the press In the Dis
ltrict Of Columbia and the great
body of the press In other places
have shown real understanding
of this problem and have volun-
Itarily withheld from publica-
ton the names of children and
and other identifying informa-
tion.
Sees Press Cooperation.
I have, therefore. approved
this bill In full confidence that
the press and all interested menu
bers of the community. because
Of their interest in the protec-
ton Of children. will continue
to cooperate in this fashion.
I am asking the District OF
Columbia officials to explore the
feasibility. from an administra-
tive viewpoint. Of keeping sepa-
rate arrest books for children
and adults of Juvenile Court age.
The bill. ! understand. would
not preclude this.
In addition, am asking them
to study the actual experience
which develops under this law.
and, If it should appear that
the interests Of the children OF
the District Of Columbia are not
adequately protected by 1t. to
recommend the enactment OF
appropriate safeguards.
- ne.