Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-06
Continued From First Page

police force OF NOT less IMAM
$500 men. At the time. the
Washington Criminal Justice
Association complained that 1t
had been frustrated in its efforts
to make study of juvenile re-
peaters because Judge Cockrill
had withheld permission to
examine the court files.
Judge Cockrill sent Judge
Davis a report on IL juvenile re-
peaters. Although she gave no
names in this report, she told
him it was not to be made public.
Judge Davis said it was his
study of this report, together
with frequent newspaper reports
of serious crime by juveniles,
which had convinced him the
handling of juveniles in the court
needed investigation. His 1850
investigation of adult crime IN
the District led to passage of the
omnibus crime law which pro-
vided many new tools for law
enforcement here.
From Judge Cockrill's report
he noted the long interval be-
tween the time a juvenile was
arrested by police and was
brought before the judge-if a
hearing was held at all. During
this period, he said the report
showed, juveniles are free to-
and do-commit other and fire.
quently more serious crimes.
After being put on probation,
he said, these repeaters con-
tinued to commit crimes. with
out any apparent difference in
their pattern of behavior be-
cause of a trip to court.
Although Judge Cockrill has
given too-eary release from well
fare institutions as cause of
repeaters, Juge Davis said, only
one of the IL reporters whose
cases he reviewed had been in a
welfare institution and COM
mitted new crimes after his re-
lease. He said the others either
had never been confined or their
record of offenses ended with
their commitment to an insti-
tuition.
The Star made its own investi-
cation of juvenile crime. Since
Judge Davis had emphasized such
street crimes as purse-snatchinR
and yoke robbery, the investiga-
ton focused on those offenses
with these results:
Juvenile Crime Noted
In the past 16 months, police
have cleared up PAT purse
snatchings and yoke robberies
with the arrest of juveniles.
Last year, 35.1 per cent of
those arrested for all robberies
and attempts were juveniles,
Last year purse-snatchings alone
showed a Al per cent increase
over the previous year.
Figures were unavailable on
the number of juveniles arrested
more than once for robbery. Po-
lice figures for all complaints
sent to Juvenile Court during the
1855 fiscal year show 1888 juve-
niles went to court once during
the year. 263 went twice, n went
three times, 10 went four times.
eight went five times and four
went six times. There were
1857 complaints filed against
these 1854 juveniles.
In robberies, the juveniles fire.
quently operate in pairs or trios,
although in some cases as many
as five will gang up on a couple.
Newsboys Robbed
Newsboys collecting from sub
scribers at night have been
beaten and robbed by lawless
juveniles so often that some par
ents now accompany their sons
on their collection rounds.
The robberies are frequently
accompanied by force. particu-
larly where two juveniles are in
volved. Both men and women
victims, in cases reviewed during
The Stars study of robbery files.
often had to be hospitalized as
a result of the viciousness Of the
assault.
Some of the violence has &C.
CURED after the youth has been
arrested, sent to the Receiving
Home and released to his parents
to await Juvenile Court action
months later.
Welfare Director Gerard M.
Shea said the Receiving Home
is greatly overcrowded and ex-
peditiouS handling of cases is
helpful, but he said he couldn't
understand why juveniles whose
offenses were serious enough to
warrant holding them in the
Receiving Home for a few days
should be sent home before fac
ing the court. The releases are
authorized by Juvenile Court
probation officers. Mr.. Shea said
he believed that despite over
crowdlng at the institution. juve-
niles who commit serious crimes
should be kept in custody until
they come before the. court.
Crime Follows Releases
In two much-publicized recent
cases. the offense occurred after
the juvenile had been released
from the Receiving Home for an
earlier offense and before he
faced the court.
These murder and robbery
cases. investigated by The Star,
show why Mr.. Davis believes an
investigation is in order.
Case No. !
Russell E. Carter had been a
welfare ward since he was eight
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