Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27. 1935. BUDDING CRIMINALS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1935, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27. 1935. BUDDING CRIMINALS.

“gPARE the rod, and spoil the child,” is advice with which the Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales. LieutenantColonel William Allan, finds himself heartily in accord. Tn his report for last year, a cabled summary of which was published yesterday, he recommended the greater use of the birch-rod in dealing with juvenile offenders, and declared that in some d'istrieis the crimes committed by

juveniles were more serious .than those committed by adults. In that ease, it may be questioned whether ‘lie use of the rod would have the desired effect, although it might

be effective as a deterrent in cases of minor offences. It is also questionable whether the suggested cultivation by the schools of more esprit de corps, regarding happenings outside the schools, would

have any beneficial effect. The investigator must go deeper, in the search for the causes of crime, and it is apparently becoming recognised that crime, in some cases,

should be classed as a disease.

An interesting experiment in criminology is about to be inaugurated, with the building on the outskirts of London of an observation hostel for the scientific and medical treatment of criminals. This, it is hoped, will be the forerunner of a number of similar clinics to be started throughout the country, leading to an extensive study of criminal and anti-social tendencies. The London clinic, which will cost £20,000 to equip, will form a valuable adjunct to the work of the Institute for the Scientific Treatment of Delinquency, for which much valuable research work has already been accomplished. Cases are treated both psychologically and medically. There are instances in which organic or gland trouble is the cause, and treatment is given accordingly. In other cases, psychology alone is the proper treatment, and each case is decided on its own separate set of circumstances. Those connected with the Institute have proved, again and again, that many people can be cured of the desire to commit crime. Numbers of crimes committed are simply due to maladjustments of the instincts, which, more often than not, can be set right by medical science.

It is when the ordinary character training at school has failed, owing to an ill-harmonised personality, that medical psychology, and, in some cases, definite treatment, can be called in to convert a potential criminal into a decent, normal citizen. Naturally, it is with the young that results are most to be hoped for, and criminology will not have achieved its aim before it becomes possible to , diagnose the potential young offender before he has started on the downward path. Magistrates, not only those in the Homeland, are realising more and more the necessity for certain types of criminals being treated as patients, instead of being punished as offenders, and an extension of this policy is to be commended. It would probably be useless to apply it to hardened criminals in the “habitual” class, but, where juveniles are concerned, great benefit is to be looked for. Such treatment is likely to prove far more effective than even the most-vigorous application of the birch-rod.