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Show Crime Problems Aired THERE has been an exceptional opportunity for newspaper readers within the week to get many viewpoints on a variety of crime control con-trol problems and, by exercise of such faculties as they possess, to form some opinions of their own. There are. however, many legal and crime specialists who do not credit the "average man" with faculties which are of any assistance to him in making up his mind on such matters. They eem to insist that they, and they alone are competent com-petent in such matters. If the average man, though, is not entirely witless, he has the com-fuitmg com-fuitmg trmugrt th4hee-expert so often disa. gree with each other, and groups of them with other groups, that they would be hard put to establish es-tablish a case either for their wisdom or their infallibility. in-fallibility. If this average man is also possessed of a sense of humor, he may be able to get some amusement out of their diverging philosophies. Oscar E. Lewder. Utah's first chief parole and probation officer, speaking at an Oakland conference, con-ference, permitted citizens of this state to get a very fair view of him, as an experienced and practical man devoid of too prevalent illusions, when he said, "there are too many workers in this field who are too optimistic over the good which can result." The records bear him out. It is a satisfying thing that he has the common-sense common-sense to look facts in the face. Dr. David G. Schmidt, psychiatrist at San Quentin, appears to be another of this sort. He cited prison statistics sta-tistics tc show that narcotic addicts are not worth parole .nk, that 99 per cent would be convicted again. He said three out of four convicts with previous convictions would return to prison if paroled. In the best group of prisoners, 30 per cent will be returned to prison if paroled. A supreme court chief justice expressed the belief that probation can save 99 out of 100 youths before they reach prison. It hasn't worked out that way here. Within the week, even, two youtha who were given their chance earlier in this year were sentenced to penitentiary peniten-tiary terms for offenses committed while enjoying enjoy-ing clemency. Nevertheless, a pickpocket was given an indeterminate sentence for grand larceny, lar-ceny, won a stay of execution until next February, Feb-ruary, when he is to make a report on his conduct con-duct In th same court on the same day, a forger for-ger was given an indeterminate sentence, but was granted stay of execution until November, when he also is to report to the court, and a liquor law violator drew a 80-day county Jail sentence but suspended. It will be interesting to watch if the 99 per cent theory holds good in ' their cases. Inspector W. H. Drane Lester of the F. B. !. told the Oakland meet that with 12,000 homicide homi-cide yearly, local officers arrest only 9000 persons per-sons and that these result in only 4500 convictions. He ask-d for cooperation of peace officers to bring about reforms enabling courts to deal more seriously wiUi malefactors. James P. Davis of Washington, penologist, here to consult with Governor Blood on the hoped-for new state prison, congratulated the state on having one of the lowest ratios of criminal population in the nation. But he added that prisoners here are incarcerated for an average av-erage of no more than two years! The criminal population accounts for the criminals under restraint re-straint He might be surprised if he looked over the number of crimes committed here without apprehension or conviction of the criminals. Our real criminal population must include the evildoers who are at large, as well as those locked up. Mr. Davis' attitude is wholly one of helpfulness, bul. he has not had time to get the whole of th t crime picture in this community and over the state. Police Judge Reva Beck Bosone told Ro-tarians Ro-tarians t Sugarhouse this week that she believes police court is a place for social service rather than punishment "I give sentences to teach that there are laws and that they must be observed." The record shows that her philosophy is getting results. |