Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-23
Dc. Heads Back
U. 5. Attorneys
Juveni|eWaiver
Power of Court
To Yield Jurisdiction
Now Up to Judge
By John w. Stepp

SV"U W. StSPR
The District Commissioners,
by a two to one vote, today,
urged that the United States At
torney here be given authority
to waive jurisdiction of Juvenile
Court for youthful offenders.
This power is now vested ex-
clusively in the judge of the
court. who last year exercised it
only six times. Waiver means
that Juvenile Court surrenders
its jurisdiction and sends the
juvenile criminal to U. S. Dis
trict Court for the District of
Columbia to process in the same
manner as adult cases.
The majority stand taken by
Brig. Gen. Louis w. PrentiSs.
Engineer Commissioner, and
Commissioner Renah F. CANA
lier. supports the majority rec
ommendation of the Congress-
appointed District Council on
Law Enforcement.
Stand BY Spencer.
Commissioner Samuel Spencer,
chairman of the enforcement
council. asked that the record
show that he takes the view of
the Commissioners Citizens Ad-
visory Council. This council re-
Gently recommended that the
Juvenile Court judge retain the
waiver power, with the proviso
that in cases where the United
States Attorney requests a waiver
after a hearing by a judge of the
Municipal Court of Appeals.
This recommendation was sub
stantially that Of the minority
of the enforcement council
which voted 7-6 on the issue.
On another controversial point,
the city heads unanimously
agreed that the Metropolitan
Police arrest book for juveniles
be available for public scrutiny.
1t was decided however that
any information on youths given
to police by Juvenile Court
should be kept confidential.
Gen. Prentiss and Mr.. Cana
lier were obviously impressed by
the arguments of Police Chief
Robert v. Murray in favor OF
placing the waiver authority in
the Federal prosecutor office.
Chief Murray emphasized that
police are concerned chiefly with
the chronic. hardened juvenile
offender who is juvenile in age
only. The chief estimated that
if all Of last years $50 juvenile
felony cases had been studied by
the attorneys Office for waiver
up to 200 could we'll have been
waived into District Court be-
cause Of the gravity of the
offenSe.
SOLDERING Effect" Cited.
Chief Murray said that he be-
lieveS that the juvenile crime
rate would be reduced under the
proposed waiver system, because
the greater likelihood of trial
in adult court would have a
SOLDERING effect" on young GRIM
inalS.
In supporting the police chief.
Gen. Prentiss declared that I'VE
have been Is years with the
present waiver system that APP
parently has not worked"
Among other recommends
tions made by the Commission
ers were:
l. That funds be appropriated
as soon as possible to expand
the OVef-crOWQeQ District Re-
ceiving Home and to increase
the staff there.
2. Closer cooperation and ex-
change if information among
municipal agencies concerned
with juvenile delinquency and
crime.
3. An additional judge and
more social workers and pro-
baton officers for Juvenile
Court.
4. Empowering law-enforce-
ment authorities to bring back
juvenile fugitives from the Dis
trict. as well as to return such
fugitives to other jurisdictions
which they may have fed.