Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-08
Officials Score
Proposals on
Felony Cases
BY JAMES G. DEANE

~ "ASAANooSo OPPOoC CA4ulIlS ZIG
District Juvenile Courts juris-
diction over Is and 17-year-olds
charged with serious crimes.
The Northeast Businessmens
Association recently proposed
that juveniles over 16 be tried
in the United States District
Court instead of Juvenile Court
on felony charges. District
Courts jurisdiction now begins
at 10.
Police, welfare and school Of
ficials, as we'll as spokesman for
Juvenile Court, all opposed this
idea.
However, the Advisory Council
was given several alternative
suggestions for stiffening the
handling of serious juvenile
cases.
Police Chief Robert v. Murray,
along with Inspector John Z.
Winters and Captain John A.
Ryan of the Police Youth Aid
Division. urged that the United
States Attorneys Office be con-
suited by Juvenile Court on
waivers of Juvenile Court juris-
diction.
Asks Broader Authority
United States Attorney Oliver
'Gasch. in a letter read to the
COUNCIL, suggested broadening
the Juvenile Courts authority to
permit it to send serious Of
tenders to Federal correctional
institutions, other than the Ma
tional Training School for Boys
here. Only District Court can
make such commitments now.
Other witnesses urged that
Juvenile Court be given funds to
set up a psychiatric clinic and
that additional psychiatric serv-
ices be provided in the public
schools.
Police Chief Murray said he
was not making any particular
complaint about the handling
OF serious crime cases by Juve-
nile Court.
/ But he said that he feels juve-
miles who commit vicious adult
crimes should not be handled
by Juvenile Court.
The police witnesses said they
do not favor sending to District
Court all cases technically
classed as felonies. Inspector
Winters said any theft from the
District government, for in
stance. is a felony. but in a
first offense, the police would
not want to take the case out
OF the hands of the Juvenile
Court.
AShS AutISUIN hOIe
The police officials also stressed
that under their proposal the
Juvenile Court judge would still
make the decision as to who tried
the case. But they said they
feel the United States Attorney
ought to have an advisory role.
Mrs. Alice B. Freer. Juvenile
Court administrative officer. OPP
posed the suggestion. Welfare
Director Gerard NJ. Shea and
Assistant School Supt. Irene c.
Hypps also opposed any change
in the present procedure.
The council took no action, all
though several members said
they were firmly against chang
ing the present starting age for
District Court jurisdiction. MIR.
Gasch and Corporation Counsel
Chester H. Gray will be invited
to give their views at a meeting
later this month.
Oppose Change
Those opposing a change in
the age provision Of the present
Juvenile Court law included DR..
Louis Jacobs. superintendent OF
the National Training School for
Boys; Miss Nina B. Trevvett,
executive director of the Com
missioner's Youth Council B.
Cortez Upton. casework chief of
the Bureau of Rehabilitation:
Mrs Milton Dunn of the League
of Women Voters. and John B.
Gillilland. president of the Dis
trict Council of Parents and
Teachers.
DR.. Jacobs said he was not
taking any official stand on
changes in the present law. but
he said personally he supported
the views Of District police Of
ficials. He added he had no
enthusiasm for any major
change.
DR.. Hypps and other witnesses
opposed treating Is and II
year Odds as adults on the
ground, among other reasons.
that it would expose them to
hardened adult criminals in
penal institutions.
"Quibbling" Charged
Downey Rice Of the Washing
ton Criminal Justice Association
accused police and Juvenile Court
spokesman of "quibbling" and
suggested a compromise along
the lines of Mr.. Gasch's idea Of
giving the Juvenile Court power
to commit youngsters TO tougher
institutions.
The only witness backing the
proposal for sending felony cases
over the age of Is to District
Court was Miss NJ. Pearl Mccall.
a former assistant United States
attorney She told Of being
knocked unconscious by youth
full would-be purse snatcher.
II do feel the public is entitled
TO some protection" she said.
Mr.. Upton suggested that the
city establish a curfew for chill
dren and also hold parents finan-
ciallY RESPONSIBLE TOR damavn