Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
Bar Unit Cites Goal
In Aiding Juveniles
Notes Need
Of Community,
Church Help

Juvenile courts need the help
of the legal profession, the
church and other segments Of
the community If they are to do
the job for which they are de-
signed, the Juvenile Delinquency
Committee Of the Federal Bar
Association was told today.
Speakers at the committee ses-
sion Of the associations annual
convention at the Hotel Statler
cited a wide variety Of practices
and procedures among the courts
over the Nation as well as prob
lens Of inadequate facilities and
staff.
Lawyers and the organized bar
can help in the consideration Of
efficient and just standards,
churches can help by helping TO
give children the spiritual guid-
ance they need, and the public
in general can recognize the need
for sufficient budgets to enable
support to play its proper role.
the speakers said.
The Nation has made tire.
mendouS strides in the creation
OF material values, spending bill.
lions on bolstering the defense
and the economy, said Judge
Harry w. Lindeman of the Ju-
venile and Domestic Relations
Court Of Essex County, N. j..
and president Of the National
Council of Juvenile Court
Judges.
County Spending Needed
But in proportion the county
Us spending a negligible amount
toward meeting the problem Of
"so-called juvenile delinquency"
he declared, warning that Eve
dare not ignore our children"
Iif there is to be parallel in
ltellectual, spiritual and moral
development in the country.
The effectiveness of probation
methods Of treating problem
children has been demonstrated
in the vast majority of cases.
Judge Lindeman pointed out. But
he said more and in many cases
better qualified probation officers
are needed. He cited an estimate
that there is a shortage of about
$4,000 probation officers in the
country under the number
needed for present case loads
and qualitative rehabilitation
lob.
In many cases there is an in
sufficient supply Of medical and
Ipsychiatric diagnosis facilities, he
CONTINUED.
In addition facilities for both
Temporary and long term treat
ment detention are badly needed.
he said. In every State children
can still be found in jail because
of inability or lack of recogni-
ton on the part of public otliclals
lof the need to furnish such
facilities.
Urges Work Separation
James H. Bobo. counsel of the
Senate Juvenile Delinquency
Subcommittee, said that an ulti-
mate objective should be separa-
ltion of the judicial and case work
function of the Juvenile Court.
with the court retaining respon-
lsibility for the judicial and an
administration social agency be.
ing responsible for the case work.
Under such division, he said
cases of some children would be
routed directly to social agencies
with no need for judicial deci-
sion. and others would be taken
ito court for judicial action and
then transferred to social agen-
,lcies for treatment.
1T seems fundamental that no
matter how socialized its proce-
Idure may be, how socially
minded the judge, or how EN-
lcient the probation staff. the
suvenile Court still remains q
court" he said.
/ Sees Potential Harm
And because it is a court, GER
tain potentially harmful atti.
tudes exist in the community. in
the child, and even in the court
lstah that may be a detriment
ito a purely case worker APP
Iproach," he added.
On the constitutionality Of
Juvenile Court proceedings, Mr..
lBobo said that during the sub
lcommittee's investigation. "the
Iomniscient attitude of some Ju-
lvenile Court judges. coupled with
arbitrary, obviously uncalled for
decisions, made some of the sub
COMMITTEE members with socio-
legal backgrounds vince with
pain. =
He said THE rights TO a def
Unite charge. counsel, a fair
hearing. reasonably relevant and
convincing evidence and appeal
which are insured on even the
most trivial issues to adults, were
not being afforded to children"