should not discriminate, especially at a time when it was so difficult to fill our police force out, and make living conditions any worse for them. Now, to answer you more directly, I think it would be better, I think it would be desirable if all District employees could live in the District of Columbia. But that has not been the pattern here, and it is rather difficult to make them move. I think it is desirable. Mr. HARSHA. Thank you. Mr. WHITENER. Mr. Dowdy? Mr. Dowdy. I don't believe I have any questions, thank you. Mr. WHITENER. Mr. Nelsen ? Mr. NELSEN. I certainly want to join the chairman in complimenting the gentleman on his statement. Now, as to the citizens' committee, will you go further than the law enforcement? Are you going to go into the school situation, recreational facilities, and so forth? I would be interested in the observation of your committee on those areas. Mr. MCLAUGHLIN. We will get into them. May I also insert into the record a brief statement of the program, the general program of the organization? I think our more direct objectives are the objectives of prevention of crime and so forth in the sense of the activity of criminal law enforcement. (The statement referred to is as follows:) CITIZENS' CRIME COMMISSION OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON Robert E. McLaughlin, President of the Citizens' Crime Commission of Metropolitan Washington, reported today that, with the financial backing and the encouragement of businessmen and civic leaders, the Crime Commission is intensifying its investigation into the deterioration of law enforcement in the Nation's Capital. "The Commission's Board of Directors," McLaughlin stated, "has ordered action on three fronts." 1. A thorough evaluation of the ability of law enforcement agencies, such as the Police Department, the prosecutors' offices, and the courts to cope promptly and efficiently with the worsening crime situation in the District of Columbia. "Specifically," McLaughlin said, "the citizens deserve to know-and we intend to find out whether our law-enforcement agencies are hampered by a lack of personnel, by inadequate or obsolete laws, or by restrictions growing out of appellate court decisions which thwart efficient police work and prosecution. "We are, quite understandably, concerned when we find that 33 percent of the felony arrests in 1962-3,100 out of 9,605-were dropped without court action. How many of these cases were dropped, in the first instance, because of the manner in which policemen made the arrest? How many were later abandoned by an assistant U.S. attorney whose judgement caused him to believe there was insufficient evidence to prosecute? Are some prosecutors more aggressive than others and, in any event, is there an operating procedure in the U.S. attorney's office for reviewing the decisions to abandon prosecution? When a suspect is charged with several counts, how many counts are ultimately taken to trial and how many dropped? "In the courts, we must inquire into the number of court continuanceslong a device used by defense counsel to prolong the commencement of trials until such time as witnesses are vague as to the circumstances of the alleged offense, or are unwilling to spend more time making appearances in the face of repeated continuances, or are even unavailable any longer to testify. We should determine whether sentences for repeaters are sufficiently severe to deter further law violations, and the pattern of sentencing by individual judges, especially with respect to concurrent and consecutive sentences. It is important, also, that we determine the extent to which probation is granted by the courts. Similarly, we must examine practices and standards for placing convicted persons on parole, and make a judgment as to whether their return to the community in a parole status is a contributing factor to the increased rate of crime in the District. "It is reported that the majority of felony arrests end up by being reduced and prosecuted in the court of general sessions and this, too, is of interest to the citizens. 2. A realistic examination of existing programs which aim to prevent crime, especially crime committed by persons under the age of 21. "What substantial efforts are being made to provide afternoon and summer work for teenagers? How difficult is it for high school graduates and dropouts to obtain work, and can we do more to see that these young people become absorbed in the economic life of the community before they become discouraged, frustrated, and enmeshed in crime? How available are colleges, trade schools, and vocational training for younger people of this area once they have left high school? Do all youngsters, regardless of race, have an equal opportunity for apprentice training and employment? 3. Increased activity by the Crime Commission to promote citizens' interest and participation in good law enforcement. "We must see to it that the citizens of Washington know their Crime Commission; that they make use of Crime Commission reports and knowledge of law enforcement activities; that individuals report activities which have a bearing on law enforcement to the Crime Commission when, for one reason or another, they refrain to report to the police or the prosecutor's office." McLaughlin said he was greatly encouraged by yesterday's fund-raising luncheon, at which businessmen and civic leaders spoke, expressed their views fully, and produced concrete commitments of financial support for the Commission. "Our luncheon also produced some friendly fireworks as to the causes of crime in the District. To me, this is an expected and healthy development. However, the Citizens' Crime Commission is exceedingly careful not to lay the blame for crime on any given law enforcement agency or community weakness at this time. The causes of crime are manifold. Generally speaking, I agree with J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI, in believing that crime breeds and flourishes in proportion to the existence of below-standard social and economic conditions. Thus, to help correct these complex conditions is the responsibility of every law-abiding citizen. The conditions which produce a growing crime rate here in the Nation's Capital can only be changed with the assistance of an interested and supporting public. "Again, that is why the Citizens' Crime Commission is so encouraged by the financial support which we hope and believe will be forthcoming from businessmen and civic leaders. "The Crime Commission, which was sponsored at the outset by the Congress and, subsequently, made a part of the official Council of Law Enforcement, is the organization which represents the citizens' interest with the police, the prosecutors, and the courts, as well as the Parole Board and penal institutions of the District of Columbia." Mr. MCLAUGHLIN. But we recognize that these are largely symptoms and that we have to go deeper to find the real causes, a lot of the causes, for our conditions here. So we do expect to work with the juvenile people and I think that we shall make recommendations and sort of prod and make thrusts at the organizations that are better equipped to do those things. But I would not think that we would ever be equipped to sort of duplicate them. What findings we make, however, that have anything to do with prevention and juvenile delinquency and that sort of thing, we will energetically bring to the attention of the agencies that are better equipped to handle them. Mr. NELSEN. The thing I wondered so much about, and we hear so many conflicting reports about the school situation. I have visited a few of the schools. Some are good, some not so good. But I would be interested in the citizens' observation as to what the needs are. It would seem to me when we talk about Federal aid to education, certainly we should measure up in the District of Columbia if it is needed and I am sure there are areas where it is needed. But it gets so colored with various points of view that sometimes we are a little confused with the limited time we have on this committee to get the information. I have always had the feeling that a vocational education thing might be one area where great good could be accomplished, because we do find considerable demand for persons that are trained in a craft and there arem any who are not equipped, perhaps, to go into an office but might be a very good craftsman. So those are things I think our committee would be interested in, knowing of your judgment and recommendations and certainly your presentation today has been a very fair one and I think a wellstudied one. Thank you. Mr. MCLAUGHLIN. Thank you, Mr. Nelsen. Mr. WHITENER. Thank you very much, Mr. McLaughlin. We do appreciate your being here and I am sorry we could not reach you yesterday. Mr. MCLAUGHLIN. Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Chairman. We will stand ready at any time to give any assistance that you might request, or the members of the staff. Mr. WHITENER. Thank you. Mr. William K. Norwood, chairman of the Public Protection Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade. Mr. Norwood, it is a pleasure to have you with us and we will be happy to hear whatever you have. STATEMENT OF WILLIAM K. NORWOOD, CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE, METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON BOARD OF TRADE Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I am William K. Norwood, representing the Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade in my capacity as chairman of its Public Protection Committee. I am here to indicate the support of the board in principle for certain House bills which would interpret and amend legal rulings which are unreasonably hampering our Police Department in effective law enforcement, and to lend support to certain other bills which would supplement regulations now in effect. As you gentlemen know, numerous bills have been introduced in previous sessions relating to these matters but the board of trade up to now has taken no official action due to divided opinion as to the need for such action as related to the constitutional rights of the parties involved. The responsibility of the courts is to protect both the accused and the innocent. But, gentlemen, the pendulum has swung too far. We no longer have a proper balance between the rights of an in especially with respect to concurrent and co "It is reported that the majority of felony and prosecuted in the court of general sessions citizens. 2. A realistic examination of existing read crime, especially crime committed by persca "What substantial efforts are being made to work for teenagers? How difficult is it for high to obtain work, and can we do more to see u 17 absorbed in the economic life of the community as frustrated, and enmeshed in crime? How ave and vocational training for younger people of high school? Do all youngsters, regardless of for apprentice training and employment? 3. Increased activity by the Crime CG interest and participation in good law enforcer "We must see to it that the citizens of Was **** mission; that they make use of Crime Commissi law enforcement activities; that individuals bearing on law enforcement to the Crime Cor or another, they refrain to report to the police McLaughlin said he was greatly encourage i luncheon, at which businessmen and civic leader. fully, and produced concrete commitments Commission. 1 " "Our luncheon also produced some friendly rev crime in the District. To me, this is an expertis However, the Citizens' Crime Commission is ex the blame for crime on any given law enforcemer r ness at this time. The causes of crime are manife agree with J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the bi breeds and flourishes in proportion to the exist and economic conditions. Thus, to help correct the responsibility of every law-abiding citizen. Tho¿ a growing crime rate here in the Nation's Capital o assistance of an interested and supporting public. "Again, that is why the Citizens' Crime Commi financial support which we hope and believe will be men and civic leaders. "The Crime Commission, which was sponsored at *** and, subsequently, made a part of the official Council o 1. the organization which represents the citizens' i prosecutors, and the courts, as well as the Parole P of the District of Columbia." Mr. MCLAUGHLIN. But we recognize that the and that we have to go deeper to find the real en for our conditions here. So we do expect to people and I think that we shall make reco prod and make thrusts at the organizations t to do those things. But I would not think that we would ever! duplicate them. What findings we make, however, that have prevention and juvenile delinquency and that s energetically bring to the attention of the age equipped to handle them. ever, I think is not before us at the moment, which would provide any police dogs as necessary. If you have seen these dogs in n, as I have, there would be no doubt in your minds as to the iveness of our canine corps. veral years ago I was talking to a former President of the Board I heard numerous others also say that the situation is not as |