Evening star., 1961-05-15
War on Delinquency

AN about war on a grave problem
OF nationwide proportionS-juveni
delinquency-has been assured by PreSi-
dent Kennedy'S move to provide Federal
aid and leadership to local authorities
directly engaged in the battle. The
President strongly urged a "total at
tack" by all concerned with the gang
"rumbles," vandalism, hoodlumism and
worse which too often fill the head
lines nowadays.
We in the Washington Metropolitan
Area are acutely familiar with the prob
lem OF youth in crime-and the statistics
cited by Mr.. Kennedy In letter asking
congressional action make 1t clear that
other cities and towns from coast to
coast are faced with similar lawlessness.
Police Chief Murray, both as head Of the
local police force and as president Of the
National Association of Chiefs Of Police,
has hailed the Governments promise
OF help. The figures sent to Congress
show that since 1948 juvenile arrests
and court delinquency cases have, more
than doubled. At this rate some 4 mil
lion children will commit offenses
serious enough to bring them into court
within the next ten years.
AS the first step in the national
drive, the President appointed a Federal
Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and
Youth Crime to coordinate Federal
efforts to advise and reinforce local
crusaders against youthful criminality.
The committee consists Of Attorney
General Robert Kennedy, Secretary
Ribicoff of the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare and Labor Secre-
Eary Goldberg. A citizens advisory group
later will be named to assist the cabinet
trio.
While, as FBI Director J. Edgar
Hoover repeatedly has emphasized, the
responsibility of averting and suppress
sing juvenile delinquency rests with in
dividuals and agencies at local levels
beginning with the home and extending
to local welfare agencies, the police and
the courts-there is much that the Fed
eral Government can do to support and
expedite these efforts. This support
would be in three main forms: /. Dem
onStration and evaluation projects to
develop special techniques for dealing
with the problem. lThese may include
outdoor work camps, training centers
and other means of taking trouble
prone youths off the streets and giving
them new outlook on life.) 2. Funds
for training probation officers, police
men skilled in handling juvenile cases,
youth-gang workers and other special
lists. 3. Expansion of Federal technical
services already being provided the
States and cities in coping with delin-
quency.
President Kennedy, in asking funds,
told Speaker Rayburn that he views
the problem with serious concern" He
said in his letter: Juvenile delin-
quency and youth offenses diminish the
strength and vitality Of our Nation;
they present serious problems to all the
communities affected, and they leave
indelible impressions upon the people
involved, which often cause continuing
problems" But neither the Federal
Government nor local authorities can
solve the problem alone. Mr.. Hoover
III ICCcuL 0IdI ScT1cS QeCldTeu LlaC
much Of the blame for the gang warfare,
window-smashing, knifings and other
juvenile outbreaks lies with the parents
Of this generation. We think a revival
Of the old woodshed method Of admin
istering discipline would help to ease
the task Of the police and the juvenile
courts.