(seq. 84)

- 2-
Report of the State Examiners under the Briggs Law
Dr. Warren A. Stearns and Dr. Douglas Thom
August 8, 1941

"Constitutional defects impair their (cases of this type)
judgment, will-power and appropriate emotional response,"
His behavior was without the capacity for premeditation.
Dr. Douglas Thom, in a letter of October 20, 1941, sums up
the position further as follows: "This lack of sensitivity
and the absence of feeling tone towards other is quite as
definite in these cases as is the impairment of intellectual
endowment that results in feeblemindedness . . . Such con-
stitutional psychopaths do not profit from experience . . .
It is regrettable that there exists at the moment no legal
machinery for brining this [ line drawn to margin towards "permanent custody"] about. We are forced to
wait until some type of criminal behavior actually occurs
before legal action is taken. Because of their youth these
individuals have their cases filed, are placed on probation,
permitted freedom on bail . . . Such procedres serve no
useful purpose and until we know more about these social
misfits, society should be protected at all times from their
cruel sadistic perverted behavior . . . In conclusion, I
would say if it is not too presumptuous, that Raymond Woodard
should be considered from the medical and social point of
view as an irresponsible individual for the reasons outlined.
There is no reason to expect that the constitutional defects
which account for his irresponsibilites will ever be eradi-
cated by time or treatment."

October 30, 1941 prosecuting attorney Robert Bradford
wrote:

" I cannot believe that the execution of a boy with such well
defined symptoms of medical disorders as young Woodard is
in the best interests of society or consistent with the theory
of full responsibilty under which we apply capital punish-
ment."

Why were these repeated clinical warnings ignored? The parents
recognized their boy's abnormal behavior and took him to the
clinic. They were described as well-meaning but ineffective.
The mother evasive of responsibility and domineering; the
father unwilling to give the boy sex instruction; both parents
were unable to cooperate with the findings of the clinic. In
one of the early examinations the boy had been described as
"likable and salvageable." Gradually the warnings become
sinister. What force could have compelled the parents to
take action? The public schools were alive to the danger
and presented striking evidence to the Court that the boy needed
custody.

What is the record of the Juvenile Court in this instance?
In communities where Juvenile Courts are well organized,
they serve as integrators for clinics and schools and social
agencies. They can use force when needed to supplement
parental control.