Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-29
JudgeCockri||
Asks Juvenile
Photo Ban Law
Also Would Forbid
Police Fingerprintine
Of DeIinquents
By ChorIes G. Brooks

0y NHOIISS ". DIOONS
Juvenile Court Judge Edith H.
Cockrill today called for law
forbidding police fingerprinting
and photographing of juvenile
delinquents except in serious
cases and then under conditions
agreed upon by the Police De-
partment and the court.
At the same time the judge
charged that police statistics
often give false impressions
about the juvenile crime situa-
ton. She singled out the Dis
trict as an example.
Judge Cockrill has been sub
jected to much criticism here
because of the secrecy surround
ing her court proceedings.
Her remarks today were made
to a work group at the Con-
ference on Juvenile Delinquency,
sponsored by the Department of
Health, Education and Welfare.
She contended police juvenile
arrest books and files should be
closed to the public by specific
statutes.
Ryan Asks for Teacher.
Yesterday Police Capt. John
F.. Ryan of the Districts Juve-
nile Squad, told a group of
specialists at the conference that
he is willing to learn more about
handling delinquents but that
there is nobody to teach him.
He declared that the advocates of
gentle treatment for delin-
quents are the ones who scream
the loudest when it's their purse
that's stolen"
The captain was addressing
one of Is work groups at the
three-day conference which OPP
ened yesterday. Over $50 Juve-
nile Court judges, educators, So
cial workers and others are
meeting here.
Judge Cockrill today told the
work group on Police Services
for Children" that all police rec
ordS regarding juveniles should
be protected by law" and be
available only to parents and au-
thoriZed persons just as in the
local Juvenile Court. Other
WISE" she declared, 1.-The protec-
ton given to the Juvenile Court
is ridiculous. She was refer
ring specifically to the District
Specifications Questioned.
Speaking of the DiStricts
problem, Judge Cockrill said po-
lice records show many offenses
by juveniles which are titled
burglary, rape and other charges,
when in actuality the offenSeS
are of such trivial nature that
the classification is only techni-
cal and not realistic.
After Judge Cockrill noted that
police juvenile squad finger
prints and photographs some
delinquent children here, James
B. Nolan, deputy police commits
Sioner of New York told the
judge he heartily agreed with
her comments in general and
pointed out that New York police
do not f1ngerprint or photograph
juveniles under the age of 16
Furthermore, he declared, rec
ords in juvenile cases are strictly
secret in New York.
T. R. Jones, superintendent of
police in Minneapolis, Mimi, yes
terday, told another group, in
Guiding Judge Cockrill, that po-
lice departments must maintain
complete files and statistics on
juvenile cases, including the
court disposition of cases.
Chief Jones. in an opening
address to the group on Police
Services for Children" declared
that sin view of the startling
statistics on crimes committed
by juveniles and the all-too-prev-
alent fact that today'S delin-
Quent too often becomes tomor-
rows adult criminal, no unneceS-
sary obstacles should be created
which will prevent the police
from earring out their primary
obligations to the whole COM
munity"
Stresses Cooperation.
Emphasizing that complete
records must be maintained or
all juvenile services" by police
the chief added that "it is abso'
lutely necessary that the police
maintain the highest degree o.
cooperation with all othel
agencies in the community"
He did not, however, refer BY
name to the disagreement be-
tween Police Chief Robert V
Murray and Judge Cockrill owe
the establishment of a file o
case dispositions by the loca
juvenile squad.
The work group sessions viii
conclude tomorrow at noon. 1
general session will be held il
the north building of the Depart
ment of Health, Education ant
Welfare tomorrow afternoon.
At that time the conferenc
will draft final recommendation
to be sent to agencies through
out the country which are in
trested in taking active steps t
curb delinquency.