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56 . JUVENILE DELINQUENCY Mr. BoBO. For how long have you been with the California Youth Authority ? Mr. Breitenbach. Since June 28,1953, sir. Mr. BoBO. Will you tell us something about the composition of the California Youth Authority ? Mr, Breitenbach, The California Youth Authority is composed of a director and four members of the board appointed by the Governor with a confirmation by the State senate. Mr. Bobo. And it has jurisdiction over all youth institutions? Mr. Breitenbach. We have the responsibility for the classification, segregation, and parole of youthful offenders who are under the age of 21 at the time of apprehension. Mr. BoBO. Mr. Breitenbach, I believe that the youth authority has instituted 1 or 2 outstanding programs within the last year. Would you tell us something about those programs ? Mr. Breitenbach. Yes; I will be very happy to, and I should state preliminarily that I am appearing here today at the request of the Honorable Goodwin J. Knight, Governor of the State of California, and the Honorable H. G. Stark, director of the California Youth Authority. We are all mighty pleased that this committee is interested in learn- ing more about the problem of juvenile delinquency in California, and are, of course, very glad to cooperate with the committee to the very best of our ability. The most significant development in California in the way of pre- venting juvenile delinquency and crime occurred just recently. Gov. Goodwin J. Knight inaugurated a few weeks ago this most significant development in the history of the prevention of delinquency in this State. On April 27, 1955, Governor Knight promulgated a program of statewide town meetings in a letter addressed to the mayors of all in- corporated cities in California and to the chairmen of the county boards of supervisors throughout the State. I would like for the record, if the committee please, to read this brief letter into the record. Chairman Kefauver. Either read it or we will have it printed in the record at this place, Mr. Breitenbach. Mr. Breitenbach. The only reason that I request that I read it is because it draws the outlines of this program, and I will read it. Chairman Kefau^^er. Suppose you read it, then. Mr. Breitenbach. This is addressed to the mayor from the Gover- nor: My Dear Mayor: California held the line on juvenile delinquency in 1954. While the Nation generally reported increases up to 15 percent during the year, statewide statistics just compiled by the youth authority show that the delin- quency rate has actually decreased in California. This has been accompished by neighborhood and community agencies which have done an effective job of coping with the problems facing our children. The California Youth Authority has provided outstanding leadership in the field of delinquency prevention and youth rehabilitation. Although we held the line last year, delinquency is still a matter of major concern to our citizens, and I am convinced that we can make further progress by immediate statewide com- munity action. Now is the time to attack the problem by early detection and local treatment of delinquents and potential delinquents. I am requesting that you and all mayors and all chairmen of boards of su- pervisors call together in an old-fashioned town meeting the interested agencies