Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/130

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118
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Superintendent, however, has the final decision. The average stay for younger boys is about 14 months; for the older boys it's about 11 months."

Mr. Cohen said that when he went to Warwick 9 years ago the school was getting "the gang-type youngster" who was characterized by loyalty to a gang but who was, for the most part, "normal" in that he did not have serious emo- tional disturbances.

TODAY'S TYPE DESCRIBED

The type now going fo Warwick was described by Mr. Cohen as the "lone wolf, who is very disturbed, yery suspicions, can't form relationships with people, feels the world is aguinst him, has never known the meaning of love, and has only experienced failure." He went on to say:

"Many of these kids literally have never had a hot meal before they came to Warwick, never had a full night's sleep and have known only real conflict in the home, The amazing thing is that they behave as well as they do.

"I have never met a youngster among the 8,000 who have passed through Warwick in the time I have been there who hadn't been beaten physically by experts—drunken parents, psy¢bolic parents, or sadistic relatives. We know from first hand that the woodshed doesn't work."

Warwick, Mr. Cohen sail, is "an open institution" that does not believe in con- finement. It offers boys an academic education, vocational training in farming, and various recreational activities.

Comparatively recently, five boys al the institutton were admitled to the lecal high school, Mr, Cohen said, Al] completed their courses, One went on to take a premedieal course, and another won a college scholarship.

Mr. Musial. I got a big kick out of it, the New York Times printing comics.

If any of the press want this, it is available.

Again, like the Chinese who sey 1 piciive is worth 10,000 words, I would like to add this to il, 1 comic artist supplies more cheer than 10,006 <loctors.

The Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Musial.

Does counsel have any further witnesses?

Mr. Beaser. No further witnesses.

The Chairman. The subcommittee will stand in recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

(Thereupon, at 4:30 p. m., a recess was taken, to reconvene at 10 a. m., Thursday, April 22, 1954.)