“Harder core” in prisons

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32525, 8 February 1971, Page 2

“Harder core” in prisons

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 7.

Prison and Borstal populations now have a “harder core” of offenders than previously was the case.

This is a natural result of the greater use of fines, probation, periodic detention, and such measures short of imprisonment, says the Minister of Justice (Mr Riddiford) in the foreword of a reissue of the Justice Department booklet, “Penal Policy in New Zealand.”

The age of peak offending has changed and there is now a greater proportion of young offenders in institutions.

In 1959 inmates under 25 years old formed 38.2 per cent of the total inmate population. In 1969 the percentage had risen to 58.5. WORLD-WIDE

The world-wide phenomenon of dissent and violence is manifested both in the nature of criminal offend-

ing and in the attitude of prison inmates, says Mr Riddi ford.

These factors impose new problems on prison administration.

“On the one hand we are concerned with safe custody, with the maintenance of discipline, and proper safeguards to the persons and lives of prison officers,” he

says. "On the other hand we must continue to provide positive assistance and meaningful incentives to inmates towards their rehabilitation. “These considerations are not diametrically opposed but they pose the continuing problems of striking a proper balance between them. “These questions, of course, relate to one aspect only of penal policy, but it does seem to me that they demand increasing attention in the present situation," says Mr Riddiford.