MORE OFFENCES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21867, 21 August 1936, Page 18

MORE OFFENCES

TREATMENT OF SEXUAL abnormality ,

WORK OF INSTITUTION AT NEW PLYMOUTH

**A less satisfactory feature* Is. the, description given in the annual report of the Prisons Department to a small: jprrengf. in the number of offences against the person, almost entirely attributable to an increase of offences 'of a sexual nature. All hoposexual offenders have in the last several, years been transferred to a special institution under Dr. Sydney Allen, a mental specialist attached to the New Plymouth prison. The General of Prisons, Mr B, ju. Dallaro, has drawn special attention to the work of this institution. “I have confidence in the regime at E l fl, lr i°<S 1 6, J m ! male to h.v, been discharged from the and of these only four have returned. It is not claimed that these mmatea have been ‘cured.’ but it does demonstrate that prison methods have so changed the inverts mentality that ho has gained such control 1 towards sexual abnormality that he no longer offends against law. “It is my custom,” Dr. Allen states, “to submit each offender ashe arrives under my care to a very complete psychological examination. Every inmate is told by .me that he has to report for examination, not onlv for physical disorder, but for mental difficulty which confronts him. Individual Treatment

“I thus spend hours outside my duties as physician in getting: toknow the individual psychology cd ttie inmates, and keep m close contact with the during the neriod of th6ir det6ntion* P dj. Allen attaches the highest possible value to the organised work U£ dertaken to provide distractions tor the inmates, stating that inmate, unless prevented by physical infirmity, joined voluntarily a class of organised physical exercise under the guidance of a trained msixuctor vdio is an inmate. Any inmate with a bent for public entertaining is encouraged to cultivate his individual gift, whether in singing, recitation, or instrumental music, and a band has now been established for some years. Examples are given of inmate who have gained competence m different branches of art or have given themselves to serious study. All this wots, it is stated, undertaken voluntarily and outside the prison routine, has an important mental effect on the mmates, and it can be said that they are under continuous psychological treatment. This enables them to take their place in the world again with the minimum of discomfort when they •have served their periods of detention*