Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-13

health problem" the subcommittee
But these doubts are largely
a matter Of semantics: for the
plain fact is that the alcoholic
responds favorably to treatment,
medical or psychiatric or both,
if he is not too far gone-just
as any other diseased patient
does to treat alcoholism as
a crime is only to aggravate the
deformity so that it becomes
more monstrous."
Covell Campaigns
Deputy Police Chief Howard v.
Covell has been campaigning for
years for new law on drunks.
He denounces the present act
as inhumane. Under it's pro-
visions, a decent citizen who
happens to get one drink too
many and stumbles into the
arms of the law, has a police
record started. If ordinary
drunkenness were no offense
there would be no need to book
the drunk, and thus no need to
begin a record on him.
Chief Covell would have the
police keep the drunk in custody
until sober, then release him.
There would be no need to post
collateral-$10 is the standard
sum needed to avoid court-or
go to court if the $40 could not
be obtained.
The subcommittee report said
"a Commission on Alcoholism
should be created to work with
police at the precinct level.
only in special cases involving
crimes or serious considerations.
other than alcoholism, would
they send the offender on to the
courts" the subcommittee said.
The commission plan goes
beyond the problem of dealing
with repeater DRINKS. 1t does not
stop at treating the men and
women who are in the revolving
door. The subcommittee said:
1T should. moreover. be with
in the authority of the commits
sion to reach the protected
alcoholic. and indeed it is in this
preventive area that such a body
could perhaps make its greatest
contribution to Soc
iety.
Commitment Process
For under enlightened proce-
dures, if the family or friends or
doctor or other qualified COM
ponent is permitted to request
the commitment of an individual
fof good reason, then the COM
mission would have jurisdiction
and could commit the patient
for treatment just as the mental
health authorities handle cases
of insanity"
Police and most judges now
feel a lot Of repeater DRINKS
would be able to support them
selves if they were not spending
their working days at the Oc-
coquan Workhouse or in Dis
trict Jail.
This faction argues that this
species of drunk could be dried
out overnight, then put back on
the streets in time to get to
work the next day.
Even when a case requires
medication and therapy and psy-
chiatry, the usual court sem
fences of 80 or so or 80 days
seldom give enough time for ade-
quate treatment.
The subcommittee said ham
ding of these cases for indefinite
periods-in some instances, per-
manently-will necessitate legis-
lation authorizing indeterminate
sentences. This should func-
tion." the report said. lin the
same way that mental cases are
now processed."
Practically Insane
And that is how it should
work. the report continued, for
the alcoholic is in fact partly a
mental case and, until he re-
covers his sobriety, is insane in
the practical sense Of the world"
One of the drawbacks in
Deputy Chief Covell's plan is
that 1t seems to be on shaky
ground as regards the Consti-
tutional guarantee of due
process. If DRINKS are not
charged, how is it legally pos
sible to deprive them of their
liberty for even a short period OF
time? The subcommittee recog-
nizes this loophole in its own
proposals. But it adds:
1T is believed that any ancil-
larry questions Of due process.
trial by jury. the right to hold
the offender in custody or to re-
lease him, and related technicali-
ties, can be worked out to give
the new system the best chances
for efficient operation.
The urgency Of the problem
is compelling. Also. it seems most
unlikely that any person would
be improperly or illegally de-
tanned where he has all the safe
guards Of the commission Of ex-
perts. the screening center OF
the clinic. and beyond that the
normal tests Of legality Of de-
tention available 10 everyone"
loo Average in Jail
Our courts and penal officials
"are working under insuperable
difficulties and they sorely need
reforms" the subcommittee said.
At all times there is an aver
age Of about 1900 jailed drunks
in District institutions. the re-
port said. There is no inter-
mediate stage between total in
caraceration and total freedom.
This makes the revolving door
drunkard a permanent burden on