"IMPAIRS INITIATIVE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 9

"IMPAIRS INITIATIVE."

REFORMATIVE DETENTION. HOWARD LEAGUE PROPOSALS. PRISON OFFICIALS' STATUS. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Dominion Conference of the Howard League for Penal Reform today passed the following remits "That since it is admitted that sentences respectively of hard labour and reformative detention produce practicaHy no difference whatever m prison treatment, the sentence of reformative detention be abolished. True leform tive treatment could at presen e more effectively and econonncaHy gi If the prevailing system ol sentencing to lon* terms of reformative detention (which are found to impair rather than strengthen initiative, judgment and senbe of responsibility) could be exchanged for either strict probation or comparative y brief terms of really hard labour, toi lowed bv a comparatively long term supervision within the commumty ou probationary license." (It ah agreed that notices informing P ns . oner of their rights should be posted m all lockups by the Department.) _ "That attached to every penal institution there should be a welfare boara con- - stin~ of welfare helpers, accredited visitors, educational advisers and teachers, together with the warden, rhanlain and medical officer to consult together in reference to inmates ana report to the Prisons Board concerning each case." . '•'That it is necessary to raise t ■ of nrison officials by requiring Sto ilitS qualifications and by the provision of subsequent courses ot trainiU of a wider educational nature tnan obtain at the present time. "That a svstem of cultural adult euucation be established to provide new and healthy interests for prisoners and bnn D them into contact with tutors of charac-ter-arid personality and that an educa- ,■ nriviser be appointed to each prison -ST- A superintendent in the development of .the scheme, i tutors to be voluntary.