der oath in a court of law or before a Committee of Congress. I have also become increasingly concerned about the influence wielded upon the impressionable minds of our youth by some so-called educators. Civil disobedience is not, and must not become, an accepted norm of behavior in a society of free men. It leads to anarchy—and pre-empts all possibility of ra tional discussion or appeal. No longer can respectable citizens complacently stand by while celebrity status is accorded those sick minds and corrupt souls who tamper with and ridicule our orderly processes of government under law. What has happened to the civic pride, the righteous indignation, of otherwise respectable citizens who turn their backs on helpless victims of beatings, robberies and sex crimes? The incredibly indifferent attitude of these people is exacting a heavy toll. It has helped to turn the streets and parks of many cities into virtual jungles of fear—where, according to a recent survey, nearly one half of the residents are afraid to walk alone at night. Despite the continuing efforts of some self-professed “ experts” to minimize the crime problem, the undeniable fact remains that crime is increasing— in both numbers and intensity—at an alarming rate. It is growing six times as fast as our expanding population. Today, the onslaught continues — with five serious offenses being recorded every minute. There is a vicious crime of violence—a murder, forcible rape or assault to kill—every 2% minutes; a robbery, each five minutes; a burglary, every 28 seconds; and 52 automobiles are stolen every hour. These figures are based on facts—unlike the illogical and inane criticism which has been voiced by that pecu liar clique of sociologists and criminologists who are apparently suffering “ armchair fatigue.” These im practical theorists who attempt to “ define away” our crime problem should step from their paper castles into the world of reality. N O ONE is more keenly aware of, or more deeply concerned with, the ravages of crime than the President of the United States. Last month, in signing the Law Enforcement Assistance Act, he declared, “ The control of crime is a major target of this administra tion.” The President has appointed a special Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice to look into and seek answers for the problems of crime control. He has the support of every responsible law enforcement official in this vital undertaking. There is an urgent need today for realistic thought and realistic action in meeting the challenge of crime and immorality. This is especially true in the critical area of youthful criminality—where society has too long been asked to endure gross abuses of public and private trust by shallow-minded juvenile authorities. In complaining last year of what it termed “ Turn stile Justice,” a major newspaper in New York de manded, “ . . . it’s time that the public was told just
why so many young criminals and terrorists are passed through this turnstile and sent back to the streets to kill, rape, rob and assault the innocent.” E XAGGERATED charges? Not in the least. From 1960 through 1964, no less than 225 police offi cers were killed in line of duty. Nearly one third of the hoodlums arrested in connection with these murders were on parole or probation when the killings occurred! The lives of six of these officers were claimed by criminals who had been paroled for a prior murder. Eleven lives were taken by offenders who had been paroled after confinement for felonious assault; and 32 of these officers were killed by paroled robbers. We recently completed an examination of the records of nearly 93,000 criminals who were arrested in 1963 and 1964. This disclosed that 76 per cent—more than three quarters—had been arrested on at least one pre vious occasion. Over one ‘ half of them had received lenient treatment. Forty-one years ago, an experienced attorney and jurist in New York issued the strong warning: “ It is not the criminals, actual or potential, that need a neu ropathic hospital. It is the people who slobber over them in an effort to find excuses for their crime. The demand of the hour in America, above all other countries, is for jurors with conscience, judges with courage and prisons which are neither country clubs nor health resorts.” T HE decent people in all sections of the country— East, West, North and South—have suffered too long at the hands of terrorists set free with little more than a pretext of impartial consideration of their guilt. They have tired of the street brawl tactics displayed by those lawyers-criminal who employ any means the courts will tolerate to- defeat the interests of justice. They are losing patience with systems of parole and probation that are little more than conveyor belts from our prisons and court chambers back to the underworld. And they have become nauseated by the irresponsi ble actions of other “ sometime” Americans such as those fair-weather patriots who eagerly grasp every right and privilege which our country guarantees its inhabitants —while ignoring the duties and obligations that citizen ship necessarily entails. Those who seek equal rights under the law should be taught to assume equal responsibility before the law. Certainly, civil rights and individual dignity have their vital place in life, but what about the common good and the law and order that preserve us all from lapsing back into the jungle? T ODAY, there is a most urgent need for Americans to rededicate themselves to the strong moral prin ciples upon which our Nation was founded. Faith dominated the atmosphere at Independence Hall in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Indepen dence and the Constitution were framed. Faith is our mainstay in the idealogical struggle now raging between the camps of godless Communism and human freedom. America will continue to progress in dignity and freedom so long as our people cherish liberty and justice and truth and honor God. Faith in God. That is the fortress of free men.
John Edgar Hoover is director of the Federal Bureau o f Investigation, Department o f Justice, Washington, D.C.
AUGUST, 1966
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