Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-25
Johnson Credited
PRISON


Continued From First Page
review of the survey with Mr..
Karrick showed.
I'VE are attacking formi-
dable sociological problems, /"
Mr.. Karrick said of the new
approach. II think we have
made an impressive start"
Referred for further study
to Mr.. Gray Thursday night
was a suggestion that courts
be able to free fathers Jailed
for nonsupport, If after their
release. they could care for
their families.
Mr.. Gray also was instructed
to watch functioning of the re-
Gently established domestic re-
lationS court to see If criminal,
as well as civil, nonsupport
cases should be channeled to
its judge.
Advice Sought
The city heads asked United
States Attorney Oliver Gasch
to advise them on three other
proposed legislative changes:
One would apply the Federal
Probation Act to the District
to increase the number Of Of
tenders eligible for probation.
The other two would allow
release on parole. without ref
erence to time served, to in
firm or old-age cases: and let
the parole board end parole
periods for rehabilitated for
mer prisoners.
City officials we're hopeful
that costly prison construction
might be prevented by thin
ming out prison inmates Even
with reform measures, the Kar-
rick committee urged construc-
ton Of one women's and four
mems dormitories, a hospital
and factory and remodeling of
factory buildings on the Dis
trict's penal reservation.
These recommendations
await a hearing on public
works construction. Some SO
million in prison building
should be carried out within
the next six years, a Commits
sioners' Public Works Review
Committee has advised.
Changes Under Study
Dovetailing administrative
changes now are in the hands
of Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray. Health Director Daniel l..
Finucane and Budget Officer
Walter L. Fowler. Mr.. Karrick
said.
Chief Murray has concurred
with a department committee
urging that first offenders in
drunken cases be released, IN
line with the Karrick study.
Such offenders would have to
be arrested on public space and
certify in writing they want
release without posting col
lateral, according to Chief
Murray's conditions.
Then, the drunken charge
would be mo papered" by the
Corporation Counsel in Munich
pal Court, according to the po-
lice committee suggestion. The
offender could petition to re-
open his case and have 1t tried
before a court.
So. although his arrest would
not be on file in the central
records bureau. 1t would be kept
in a confidential police file in
case Of an eventual court air.
ing. The law requires police
to record arrests Of all persons
released without going TO court
and to note the reason for their
releases.
Seek Sales Curb
Chief Murray also said po-
lice could help prevent sales
of alcohol to n'er-do-wells by
giving licensed liquor dealers
the names Of incorporates in
the neighborhood Of liquor
stores. These dealers are pro-
hibited by law from selling To
"any person Of VIGOROUSLY in
temperate habits"
II an officer personally in
formed a licensee about In
temperates, then dealers would
be liable for prosecution for sale
10 those persons. the police COM
mittee reasoned.
The Chief also was willing 10
order his men TO simply send