Crime Reporter

Radiomen piously defend crime programs on the grounds that they i) help the police in combating juvenile delinquency, and 2) prove that crime doesn't pay. Last week, a critic who should know told the radiomen to think up a better defense. Writing in the Monthly Record of Connecticut State Prison, Convict Le-Roy Nash (assault with intent to kill, 20-25 years) reported on 50 programs he had studied over a two-week period.

"One program gave details on how to snatch 75 Gs' worth of diamonds," he said. "Another showed how to 'case' a bank for a 50-6 stickup. Another told how to blackmail recently widowed women out of 5 or 10-Gs apiece."

In each case the police solved the crime, but, Nash pointed out: "These teen-agers (your kids) are constantly being shown that if they aren't as stupid as that very, very dumb and ignorant criminal portrayed on the radio (who got the 75 Gs, but got caught in a two-way radio police trap), that he, the teenager, could easily get away with it ... Lights flash on; bells ring; he visualizes $75,000 stacks of greenbacks stashed in his bureau drawer. He says to himself, 'It's about time somebody with a little intelligence went after one of those easy jobs.' " The end result? "Another kid heading for skid row to acquire a gun and a short-wave car radio --and either a prison sentence or a dose of lead poisoning or a trip to the hot seat." --

In a speech at the University of Oklahoma last week, Wayne Coy, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said: "Our files of letters protesting crime programs are bulging." Noting the fondness of radiomen for charts and graphs, he offered some statistical guidance. More than 300 pediatricians, sociologists, neuro-psychiatrists and psychologists, said Coy, were questioned on the effects of crime programs. The results: 90% said such shows had a bad psychological effect on children; 93% said radio thrillers and programs ending in suspense had a bad effect; 81% agreed that present-day radio programs contribute to children's delinquency or antisocial behavior.

Coy concluded with a warning quotation from "an observer and teacher of many years ago." The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians, had said: "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners."

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