PENAL LAW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 253, 26 October 1938, Page 15

PENAL LAW.

FLAN TO REVOLUTIONISE. NEW BRITISH PROPOSALS. LONDON. \ r-\stem of parole for prisoners in . liltain is propo.-ed in the draft of a i v. penal reform bill now being revised \ Sir Samuel Hoare. Home Secretary, .•fore submission to the Cabinet. The meat-ure. according to present i'-.ins. will be introduced into Parlia- ; 'icnt by the Government at the next -f-sion. and. if enacted into law. ap•ears likely to revolutionise the British prison system. It covers all aspects of :!ie penal code and deals with every •lass of offender from the hardened •liuiinal to the Borstal institution— I •■form school —eelse. Three main proposals included in the Ira ft arc: — 1. Est a blishinent of a parole system which will permit "good conduct" convicts to work by day outside their prisons. Abolition of the distinction between "imprisonment" and "penal servit utle." 3. Creation of a new penalty to be known as "detention." Sir Samuel Hotire is consulting with his IFotnc Office experts before turning l he bill over to the Cabinet for approval. Ministers will then decide how much of the British Government's Parliamentary programme can be spread for prison reform problems at a time when the international situation still is loom - ing big on the agenda. Sir Samuel aims to push the new measure through Parliament with the I, ast p<»-silll e delay, though it appears j clear that many of its provisions, particularly the propose.l in again -out again parole system will raise lively debates. Sir Samuel's reform bill, it is indicated. will provide that prisoners considered eligible for the privilege shall be released on parole so that they may I accept outside jobs and return to gaol j after their day s work. Experience in! "model" prisons where a substantial! measure of temporary liberty is permitted has convinced the Home (Mice | authorities that the system might be j expanded without harmful results, it is reported. The Home Secretary al-o is known to hold the view that an extension of the probation system offers best prospects of bringing potential criminals back to ii*'i ma 1 life and reduce Britain's crime records. Another proposal embodied in the new measure it- that certain criminal penalties now attached to penal* s,r\itu,hsentences in Uiis count rv should he eliminated. U i- suggested that remis. sion of sentences gained bv wellla ha ved prisoners in all cases should be absolute, and not qualified bv the penal servitude license— popularly ' known as "ticket of leave"' rules. I'lider this system a "good conduct" convict may be" release! before the end of his term only on condition that he report periodically to the police until the original sentence has expired. Normally, a well-behaved prisoner serves only three-fourths of a penitentiary term in Britain. }sut if, for example, he has served three vears and ■A<ts a year off for good conduct he still must check with the police at intervals during that year, and he must keep his address registered with the police.