INDETERMINATE SENTENCES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12570, 13 August 1906, Page 7

INDETERMINATE SENTENCES.

Berrima Gaol (says tho "Sydney Daily Telegraph") has been set apart as a place of confinement in which persons /declared to be habitual criminals shall, at the expiration of their fjentenoes, be detained. This has been done in pursuance of tho Habitual Criminals Act passed last session. It relates to persons who have been convicted of the samo class of offence over and over again. When a criminal of this kind h bofoie the judge it is corn-potent for his Honour after passing sentence for tho particular offence to declare the prisoner to be an habitual criminal. At the expiration of the sentence, tho prisoner is sent Jo Berrima Gaol for an indeterminate period. It will then depend upon his conduct as.to when he is released. The Oomptroller-General says that a modified system of treatment will be carried out at Berrima, and the prisoner will have a very fair time. The severities of gaol lifo will be softened, but tho man will not have his liberty, and will not bo allowed to prey upon the public. An opportunity is to be afforded of working, and of earning money. There are already 10 of these criminals at Borrima, and they are there on account of all sorts of crimes. The operation of tho measure, Captain Neitenstcin says, is having a wholesome effect upon other criminals. It is quite a new departure, so far as the colonies are concerned;