"A PAROLE BOARD"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1924, Page 7

"A PAROLE BOARD"

POLICY OF PRISON REFORM

AN ANSWER TO CRITICISM.

Comment has been made in the Chrisbchurch newspapers of late with reference to the action of the Prisons Board in releasing certain prisoners before the expiration of their sentences. The' matter has been^ brought under the notice of the Prisons Department, and an official statement has been drawn up regarding the policy being observed.

With reference to the allegation that the police are not notified of the release of prisoners, it is _ pointed out1 thati the requisite information regarding the release of every prisoner, whether on probation or on discharge, is forwarded by the prisons to the "Police Gazette." Direct notification to the local police regarding each probationer would be unfair to. the probationer—more especially as he is under the supervision of the local probation officer.

SPECIFIC C'|STCS QUOTED

In regard to the specific cases referred to, one is, no doubt, the case of a man, who was sentenced to two years (not threo years), hard labour for indecent offences on boys. This man was released on probation by the Governor-General, on the board's recommendation, after he had served eighteen monthssof his sentence. That is to say, that: for sixmonths after he was released ho was under the supervision of a probation officer, and could have been returned' to prison again for any breach of the conditions of probation. Prior to the passing of the Crimes Amendment Act, 1920 (which placed under the Prisons Board hard labour prisoners, ns well as those with terms of reformative detention) this man would have been automatically and finally discharged • after serving threequarters of his sontonce (eighteen months) without being subject to super vision of any kind. The other caso referred to is probably that of a labour secretary, who was sentenced to twelve months for em;bezzlirig labour union funds, and was released on probation after serving half his term. In both cases the board had good and sufficient reasons, for. exercising the powers conferred upon iti by statute to recommend His Excellency's clemency. In neither case was final discharge grant ed—merely conditional liberty. By virtue of the various statutes the Courts are empowered to impose on offenders sentences of varying ;length, according to the enormity of the offence.' By special statutes (Crimes Amendment. Acts, 1910 and 1920) the Governor-Gen-eral, on the recommendation of the Prisons Board, is given power to release offenders on probation or'absolutely to remit part of the sentences, passed by the. Courts. . ."..■"".

"THE PREROGATIVE OF MEROY."

The power to release offenders upon probation, on the recommendation' of a board,/is only a variant of-the-power'of the Crown to exercise the prerogative of mercy at any-time. The Prisons Board is required by statute to inquire into the cases of all prisoners, and to mako to the Governor-General such recommendation as it deems fit regarding their release on probation or discharge. In practice offenders serving definite hard labour sentences are seldom discharged until within a very short period of the expiration of their sentences. It is also an 'exceptional- thing f6r> the case of a hard labour prisoner even to be considered by the board until he' has served half his term." Generally speaking, the lot of the hard labour prisoner is harder underthe board than under the former remission by marks system. Given good behaviour and .reasonable industry the prisoner under the latter" arrangement' was automatically freed from. imprisonment and from control of any kind after serving ; three-quarters of his sentence. Under the board- the remission of hard labour sentences seldom equals one-quar-ter of the whole; and even^ then the remitted balance is on probation. It will thus be seen that hard labour prisoners formerly received greate'i- consideration by way. of definite remission for "exemplary conduct" than they do at present. It might .further be stated for general information that when the Courts pass sentences of reformative detention or declare prisoners to be habitual offenders, they specifically place such prisoners under the jurisdiction of the board. Reformative detention is really a form of. limited indeterminate sentence, and when applied to any individual it means that within the limit set the period of the sentence has bean delegated by the Court to .the "board. ;" \ ' .

ONLY THE FAILURES HEARD ABOUT.

It is represented that one newspaper, like other adverse critics of the board, is judging the system entirely by the small percentage of failures. Naturally enough it i s only the failures that the Courts, the police, or the. newspapers see or hear about. Nothing, whatever Ms said about the much larger percentage of successes, as shown by the board's annual report. It is'pointed out that no prisoner,is 're-leased-by: the-.-board unless the fullest possible, particulars are available regarding him—his history before sentence,, conduct and industry and general characteristics while in prison, arid in many cases the \ assurance of employment or care on'his release. No man is released if the Prison report is adverse, and few men are permitted to go eyen'ujjon probation unless their release is strongly recommended by the superintendent of tho prison in "which" they have been confined. Manymen ; particularly sexual offenders of a certain class, and others who are feeble-minded and who are not considered fit'for release are detained whatever" their, conduct, and industry until their sentences have nearly expired.-

"IN 'REALITY A PAROLE BOARD."

The Prisons Board is in reality a "parole" board. "Its function is to make recommendations to the Governor-Gen-eral regarding the release on probation or discharge of sentenced offenders. In making such recommendation the Act enjoins them "to have regard to the safety of the public or of any individual •or class of persons and to the-welfare-of the person whom it is proposed so to discharge or release on -probation." No more than any other body can the board claim to be infallible. Prisoners with excellent records in prison, and with apparent chances to niake good outside must be. given a chance. The Act provides for this measure of consideration. That some of those who are tried will bo found wanting is inevitable, but tho statistics show that by far the. greater majority make good.

For a finger imil to reach its'full length, an average of seven-twelfths-of an inch, from 121 to 130 days of growth are necessary. ■ Messrs. E. Johnston and Co., auctioneers, will sell by auction the bankrupt stock of Bruce Howe, clothier and rriercer, at their Mart, at 10.30 10-morrow. Tliey will also offer the contents of No. 203, Wellington Terrace, at the same time. At 10.30 on Friday, at No. 6, Halswell street, they will sell the furnishiiiKs. ■ Messrs. Vine and Wilson" will sell oak furniluru and oO'euts oil the- premises, Mo. 30, Washington avunue, Brooklyn, on Friday next, at 1.30.