Guardians Find Sharp Increase in Delinquency

A sharp increase in the rate of commitment to New York State reformatories and prisons for boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 21 was found as a result of a study undertaken by the Jewish Board of Guardians during the past year, according to a report by Dr. John Slawson, executive director, at the fifteenth annual meeting of the Board, held last night at the home of Adolph Lewisohn, 881 Fifth avenue.

“When the five year interval 1924 to 1928 is compared to that of 1928 to 1933, we observe a thirty-five per cent increase in commitments, which is by far in excess of the Increase in population for this period for the same group,” declared Dr. Slawson before an audience of nearly 350 men and women, comprising volunteer members of the Jewish Big Sister and Big Brother organizations, parole and probation officers, educators and social workers.

JEWS INCLUDED IN RISE

Declaring that difficulties of adjustment by the older adolescent group are accentuated materially by the present economic situation, Dr. Slawson stated that the studies undertaken by the Jewish Board of Guardians relating to delinquency and mental ill-health in the community indicate that the Jewish group is following this general trend of large increase in the 16 to 21 age category, as compared to an increase of only six per cent in the commitment of adults during the same period.

Less legalistic and more social methods of studying and disposing of cases which come to the attention of Judges in the Children’s Courts, a re-definition of the delinquent child which would permit minors to be considered not as criminals but as children in need of aid and guidance, was urged by Judge George W. Smyth of the Children’s Court of Westchester County, who was introduced by George Z. Medalie, former United States District Attorney and president of the Jewish Board of Guardians.

Dr. David M. Levy, formerly chief of staff of the Institute for Child Guidance, and consulting psychiatrist of the Jewish Board of Guardians, was the other speaker of the evening. In his address on “Changing Viewpoints in the Treatment of Behavior Problems,” he stressed the importance of recognizing the effect of social environment on behavior problems of children.

Among the new methods of treatment for maladjusted children introduced by the Jewish Board of Guardians during the past year is a therapeutic group activity program designed to foster the type of social and individual activity that results in the release and discovery of latent talents and interests possessed by children in the group, according to Mr. Medalie. Painting, clay modeling, and other similar activities, many of which are initiated by the children themselves, are being carried on under the supervision of a carefully chosen group of leaders, on the theory that pathological behavior may be due in part to blocked interests, which, if released on an individual basis in group activity, may assist in the processes of socialization. The project is being conducted on an experimental basis, he announced, under the auspices of the Big Sister Department of the Jewish Board of Guardians, of which Mrs. Sidney C. Borg is chairman.

An increase of twenty-five per cent of new cases in the Child Guidance Department was reported this year, Mr. Medalie said, with approximately 1,000 children receiving treatment Nearly 8,000 children and ### received service in one form or another from the Jewish Board of Guardians during the past year.

The activities now being carried on by the Jewish Board of Guardians were begun forty-two years ago when the Jewish Prisoners’ Aid Society was founded. In 1921 the various philanthropic organizations dealing with behavior and personality problems of Jewish children and adults merged to form the Jewish Board of Guardians. The Board is one of the constituent agencies of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies.

The following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing year: George Z. Medalie, president; Harold L. Bache, Mrs. Cecil R. Borg and Mrs. Mortimer M. Menken, vice-presidents; Arthur J. Goldsmith, treasurer; Paul Felix Warburg, secretary.

Additional members of the Executive Committee chosen at last night’s meeting were Mrs. Julius Ochs Adler, Mrs. Henry Blumenthal, Ira A. Hirsehmann, Frank E. Karelson, Ira J. Sobel, Jack I. Straus, Mrs. Irwin Untermyer.