Evening star., 1955-03-06
6Senafe Bills
Aimed al D. T..
Delinquency
Four Of Proposed
Measures Affect
Juvenile Court
By Frank SortweIl, Jr.

SSNSNAS S0hA
By Frank SortweIl, Jr.
Six bills aimed at fighting
juvenile delinquency In the Dis
trict will be introduced In the
Senate this week. -Four affect
Juvenile Court.
An outgrowth Of hearings held
here by the Senate Subcommittee
to Investigate Juvenile Delin-
quency, the bills will be intro
duced by Senator Kefauver,
Democrat, of Tennessee, chair
man Of the group. Other sub
committee members are expected
to co-sponsor the bills.
They would:
/. Allow incorrigible children,
over 16, committed to the care
of the District Welfare Depart
ment, to be waived to adult
courts and prisons by Juvenile
Court If the court finds that they
cannot benefit from the welfare
program and are hurting that
program for other children.
This can be done now, Welfare
Director Gerard M. Shea said,
but it is difficult. The bill would
make it easier. but would leave
the decision on such waivers up
to the judge Of the Juvenile
Court.
Compromise on Waiver.
2. Make it mandatory on the
court to allow the Chief of Police
or the United States Attorney
for the District Of Columbia to
present arguments on waiver of
children to the adult courts.
This is something of a COM
promise on the question Of try
ing children in adult courts.
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
and others have attempted to
get the power Of decision vested
in the United States Attorney
instead Of in the Juvenile Court
Judge.
Police can now request waiver
of a child accused Of a serious
offense to the adult courts by
letter.
| 3. Allow the Juvenile Court
judge to appoint a referee to
handle some of her work load.
He would b can attorney, famil-
lar with the philosophy and prac-
tice Of the court, and would hear
cases designated by the judge.
His findings and recommenda-
tions would become the action of
the court if the judge approves.
Any interested person could ap-
peal his verdict to the judge.
An interim report published
by the subcommittee a year ago
states. "It Isl abundantly clear
that the workload falling on the
present single judge Is too much
for any one person"
Division of Responsibility.
4. Make perfectly clear that
the director of social work car
ries out his duties under the di-
rection Of the Juvenile Court
judge"
The subcommittee found that
Is per cent of the complaints
made to the court handled by
the social work division without
ever being referred to the judge.
"Such a division of responsibility
can but create a shifting of re-
sponsibility and a lack Of con-
troll by the judge over an essen
tial part of the courts func-
tions." the report stated.
S. Include the District in the
reciprocal non-Support laws.
These allow States to force the
payment of support by fathers
to their families. whether the
family is in the same State or
not. The District and Nevada
are the only Jurisdictions without
such a law.
Support money could contrib
ute to a better home environ
ment. thus cutting juvenile de-
linquency. A similar bill has
been introduced in the House
by Representative McCulloch.
Republican, of Ohio.
Aimed at Pornography.
6. Allow police to confiscate
and sell any vehicle. fixture or
equipment used to sell pornog-
raphy or to present a porno-
graphic exhibition.
James H. Bobo, subcommittee
counsel, said the sale of such
material is usually aimed at
youngsters. The law would, he
said, make it harder for a peddler
of pornography to return to his
trade after paying small fine.
Public hearings will be held on
the six bills, Mr.. Bobo said.