PROBATION

Dominion, Volume 17, Issue 288, 22 August 1923, Page 7

PROBATION

IS SYSTEM SUCCEEDING?

"REFORMS OUTWEIGH

RELAPSES”

Is the system of probation for prisoners to be judged by the small percentage of failures? The question is discussed at some length by the Chief Probation Officer (Mr. C. E. Matthews) in his annual report, which was presented to 1 arliarnent last night. “One might reasonably ask, says Mr. Matthews, “how the suitability of individual prisoners for probation is to be tested unless they are released from prison and so given a trial under our system of restricted liberty. If undue attention were paid by the board to some critics there could be no probation system. Every man sentenc«i to imprisonment would have to remain in prison until his term had expired, and the hundreds of offenders who are now given an opportunity of 'making good under the enlightened system in force in New Zealand would, in a large percentage of cases, have no such opportunity at all, and would simply return to prison after a brief period of liberty, and help to swell the criminal statistics. Probation is Not Freedom. “It does not appear to be generally understood that a prisoner who is released on probation is not by any moans a free man. He is under constant observation and supervision by the probation officers, whose instructions are to deal with every probationer firmly and impartially, and, while not being too insistent upon reporting him for minor breaches of the conditions of probation, to have no hesitation in doing so if he is not responding to the privilege of conditional liberty that has been granted hilt. A strongly adverse report to the chief probation officer regarding the conduct of any probationer entails cancellation of his probationary license and his immediate return to prison. In all such cases the punitive provisions of the Crimes Amendment Act axe drastically administered. The same rule is followed when probationers commit even fairly trivial offences against the law. Their licenses are forthwith cancelled, and, in addition to further punishment inflicted by the Courts, they are required to complete the terms to which they were originally sentenced.” Reformers Number 95 Per cent. “From time to time we have cases in which it is abundantly clear after the first month of probation that some offenders are quite unworthy of the privilege granted them. Some of the younger mon even offend soon after being granted probation. The Act contains full provision for dealing with such cases. Having shown that they are only fit for prison, they are promptly sent there. They have had their chance, and have failed to take advantage of it. The percentage of failures is, however, very small, and under no system could 100 per cent, of successes be expected. The offenders probation statistics for the year ended December 31 last show that 508 offenders were granted probation, while twentyfive others were ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Of the total of 533 who received the benefits of the Offenders Probation Act only thirty-one failed to carry out the terms of their conditional release. The percentage of successes was therefore 95.27.” Payment of Prisoners. Giving details of the operations during thd year, the Chief Probation Officer state's that, on the recommendat:on of the Prisons Board, 284 prisoners were released on probation during the vear ended December 31, 1922. Under the system in force for some years past each prisoner was credited with a very small amount per week to provide a fund for his immediate necessities on release. If his industry or conduct was unsatisfactory be forfeited a part of the amount so credited. The payment of accumulated “earnings” to prisoners discharged or released on probation was made in instalments by the probation officers in the centres of population and in the country districts by the head office of the Department. For obvious reasons no probationer was paid his total earnings in a lump sum unless the sum was small or good reason was shown for the payment of the full amount. Prior to this rule being followed, it was found that many men squandered the whole of their money in the first fortnight after release, with the result that they were soon under arrest again for some offence arising out of drunkenness. The total of the “earnings” paid out during the past financial year was £5097 19s. lOd. Of this amount, £2389 7s. 7d. was paid by controlling officers at the time of release, whilst £2708 12s. 3d. was paid in instalments after release.