VIOLENCE CRIMES BY RELEASED LIFE-TERM PRISONERS GIVEN EMPHATIC DENIAL BY MINISTER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22942, 10 May 1949, Page 6

VIOLENCE CRIMES BY RELEASED LIFE-TERM PRISONERS GIVEN EMPHATIC DENIAL BY MINISTER

(P.A.)

NAPIER, May 9

Suggestions that crimes of violence had been committed by prisoners who had been released after being sentenced to life imprisonment were denied by the Minister of Justice, Mr. H. G. R. Mason, in a letter received by the Hawke’s Bay County Council today.

The Minister alleged that there had been misrepresentation in the press about the. incidence of crimes of violence following the abolition of capital punishment.

The Minister was replying to a letter from the county council advocating full investigation of the question of capital punishment and suggesting that a referendum be held on whether or not it should he restored. He said he would investigate and later make a public statement. „

“A good deal has been alleged in newspapers as to the increase of crimes of violence following the abolition of capital punishment,” said the Minister. "More than this, a good deal of alarm has been caused through reiterated statements that such crimes are committed by those who have been sentenced to life imprisonment and have been released by the Prisons Board after imprisonment for only a limited number of years. “This tias been repeated so frequently of late that it is necessary to contradict it. Confusion in People's Mind

"A good deal of confusion has arisen in peoples' minds. An offence by a prisoner who has been released is spoken of as if some fault bad been made in releasing him. “This disregards the fact that the great number of prisoners are sentenced for fixed terms at the expiration of which they are entitled to release.

“By reason of the misrepresentation I have mentioned the impression is conveyed that prisoners who committed such offences are those who have been sentenced for life and the inference is that in no circumstances should they be released. “The truth is that there has never been a prisoner released from serving a life sentence who ever has been subsequently convicted for a crime of violence.” declared Mr. Mason. “The utmost caution is used by the Prisons Board in the release of prisoners where that release comes within their authority and their judgment, as far as it concerns those sentenced for life, has been completely vindicated in every instance.”