Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-23
Serious Crime Here
10 for 9th Month
III Pct. Rise
Stirs Call for
Low PorIey

oNNF @CA eAAC CABAAeAA otA 1lNub
month, Police Chief Robert v.
Murray said today. The in
crease was 22.7 per cent above
the same month last year.
District Commissioner Robert
E. Mclaughlin, upon releasing
the police statistics, announced
he has called a meeting next
week Of law enforcement au-
thorities to iron out procedures
for Q comprehensive crime
census" for the District.
MFR. Mclaughlin said the new
police statistics show the Dis
trict Is going through more
than a temporary upsurge of
crime"
The total number of serious
crimes rose to 1S.455, an in
crease Of 1873 per cent above
the previous low in June, 1857.
1t is, however, a decrease of rs
per cent below the all-time high
in the crime trend recorded in
January, 1858.
Prevention Urged
Chief Murray said the August
jump sis indicative of an i'm
perative need for increased
emphasis on crime preventive
programs If the upward trend
Of crime is to be abated."
The LARGEST single increase
last month was in the number
of housebreakings, which to-
tailed 412. or nearly twice as
many as were committed in
August, 1858. There were Is
rape cases reported. compared
to 8 the previous August.
The number Of aggravated
assaults totaled 28e, an in
crease of 81 over the same
month last year. Petty lar.
cenies jumped to SOS, an in
crease of 102.
The total number Of rob-
berries was 81. compared to "a
reported last year and grand
larcenies totaled 70. compared
with 81. The number of homi-
lcides was reported the same. as
last August. II, and auto
thefts decreased from 1853 to
l55.
The total number of serious
offenses last month was 1,72S,
compared to 1.408 recorded last
year. -
Under another breakdown
which excludes negligent horni-
cides. rape without force and
larcenies under $50, the number
Of serious offenses last month
increased by 26.9 per cent over
August, 1858. The total under
this system is LIB offenses
against BIT last year.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said he has
received strong backing in his
proposal for a crime census,
which he said would help show
why crime is increasing in the
District. The census would
provide a detailed follow-up on
all criminal cases in the District,
going back perhaps for the
past two years. he said.
1--WE would like to determine
Through this census technique
at what stage does there appear
to be q weakness in law en-
forcement." Mr.. Mclaughlin
said.
Invited to participate in the
census study were officials Of
the District government. Mu-
nicipal and District courts, the
United States Attorney, the
Corporation Counsel and rep
resentatives of the probation
and parole agencies, the Police
Department, the Department
Of Corrections and the Crimi.
nal Justice Association.
Commissioner McLaughlin
noted that Chief Judge David
A. Pine Of the District Court
feels the census proposal is q
splendid idea" Other Of
flcials have also Endorsed the
plan, he said.
Plan for Census
The census would provide
details about convicted Of.
tenders. the disposition of their
cases and conduct upon re.
lease.
The proposed local crime
census was suggested by Mr..
mclaughlin following a pro-
posal made by former Presi-
dent Herbert Hoover in an ar.
ticle that appeared last June
in This Week Magazine in The
Star. Mr.. Hoover urged a ma
tional crime census be made
to help law enforcement au-
liberties.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said the
Injecting will be held at 3 pm.
Monday in his office.
The Commissioners. in an.
other step to slow the spiraling
crime rate have decided to
seek funds for an additional
500 police. Congress has re-
Gently approved funds for an
immediate addition of 100 men
who will be added by the force
by January.
| Civil War Unit Asks
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