PENAL REFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 16

PENAL REFORM.

TO HELP PRISONERS. GAOL POPULATION REDUCED. A meeting was held at the Y.W.C.A. to arrange for the formation of a branch of the Howard League of Penal Reform in Auckland. In the absence of the Hon. George Fowlds, Mr. Furness was in the chair. Miss B. K. Baughan, who is an ardent supporter ot the league and who has been associated with it for a number of years, gave an' address on the league and the great need for penal reform in this country. A great number of the prisoners were mentally defective and not responsible for crimes they committed. The late Chief Justice on one occasion said, "More than one-third of our offenders are mentally abnormal." In reforming the penal system one of the best methods was probation. Probation in many cases succeeded where prison failed. If this course was followed the magistrate must exercise wise discretion, the probation officers must be selected from men who would be an example, and, what was a most important factor, the officers must rally to their assistance all the social and religious bodies. In England there were a number of voluntary workers who helped the officials. They did a great deal of the field work, and only in difficult cases needed to report to the official, who then took the matter into his own hands. Another method was the classification of delinquents. In most cases, the menially abnormal who were not responsible, were let out on probation to be brought 'back again at the reappearance of the old vice. When a prisoner was released he come out into a world that was practically friendless. He found difficulty in getting a position and naturally gravitated to the associations and fellowship of other criminals. He was ultimately arrested for being idle and disorderly and became an habitual criminal. Often a helping hand at the psychological moment could alter the course of a man's life. No Criminal Appeal. Mr. J. J. Sullivan said that the establishment of this league was not only necessary but long overdue. In New Zealand we have been virtually standing still as far as reform in our criminal administration is concerned for many years. In the departments of probation and Borstal treatment, and attempts toI wards legal aid for prisoners, some-steps I had been taken, but really nothing practical had-been done for twenty or thirty years in the way of reform, relating to those who were charged with offences, in the steps that are to be taken on their behalf towards establishing their innocence or their guilt. But to mention one or two of the crying reforms that are necessary one need only direct attention to the fact that in New Zealand there was no Court of Criminal Appeal. An appeal can be taken from the decision of the Supreme Court to the New Zealand Court of Appeal on a point of law only, but that is not a Court of

Criminal Appeal. Inquiries should be directed as to the means of access by those arrested to counsel, and facilities for such access should be frankly and fully dismissed, including the means by which counsel arc brought in touch with those charged with offences. There was, again, the question of legal aid for poor prisoners. When under the present half-hearted legislation, legal aid was forthcoming, it was not always the most satisfactory. A Magistrate's View. llr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., supported Miss llaugliaii's contention that what wasdesired was not. prison, but penal reform. After-care, too, was of the utmost importance. Nothing could be done without the education of public opinion. The magistrates did their best, but no Government institution could get ahead of legislation, and that could be inspired only by public opinion. The meeting decided to form an Auckland branch of the league, and the following committee was appointed:—The Hon. George Fowlds, Dr. Mildred Staley, Mrs. I\. E. Watson, Mr. E. G. Cutten, S.M., Mr. J. Stewart, Mr. Evans, Mr. J. J. Sullivan, Mr. C. 11. Furncss, and Miss Statham.