National Crime Commission Conference

Abstract

Crime, from whatever standpoint it is considered, is seen to transcend in importance most of the other great problems of the day. It is a more complex, phenomenon than is generally supposed, and is a constant source of degradation of public and private morality. The citizens of many states have been aroused because of crime, more particularly spectacular crime, and the many statements, some accurate, and too many inaccurate, relative to it and the treatment of the criminal. Attempts to determine the exact crime situation and its causes bring forth marked differences of opinion. Many reforms are proposed, and cover the entire range of administrative activities from the police to the final Court of Appeals, and even the conduct of governors in criminal matters. Each separate official agency dealing with crime defends its methods and attempts to place the responsibility elsewhere. In the meantime the public mind is left in a state of confusion and alarm. Early in November a conference on crime was held in Washington, D. C., under the auspices of the National Crime Commission. This gathering, in accordance with its purpose, served well to inform many persons and organizations of the existence of others in the fight on crime, and of their viewpoints, accomplishments, problems, objectives, and methods. The report of the National Crime Commission, available at the conference, stated that the Commission came into existence to take advantage of the temporary awakening of popular alarm to secure the establishment of state and city bodies, composed of qualified and conservative men, to go over the weak spots in the judicial armor of the different states, and obtain a legislative enactment of statutes which would remain after the crime excitement itself had subsided. Further, that, although only a year had passed since the Commission had announced its determination to encourage the establishment of local bodies, and while at that time there were practically only three such bodies existing, there were represented at the conference twenty-six commissions, and over fifty additional important organizations, which have taken up seriously the question of crime reduction. Of course