Crime That Should be Severely Dealt With

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 2

Crime That Should be Severely Dealt With

QUESTION OF PROBATION FOR FIRST OFFENDERS. WELLINGTON, June 29. “I think the time is approaching, if it has not already been reached, when this type of offence by youths will have to be more severely dealt with in the courts,” said Judge Reed in the Supreme Court after dealing with four prisoners who had pleaded guilty to breaking, entering and theft. Their ages ranged from 23 to 20 years. Continuing, he said, “No doubt it is in the interests of an individual offender that he can bo kept away from contamination of prisoners by the use of the Offenders’ Probation Act, but it is really questionable whether in the general interests of the public, particularly of the adolescent part, a general impression should be created that a young man can safely indulge at least once, j in what appears to be the attractive crime of breaking and entering without punishment. Such an impression, if it gets abroad, will simply result in the | creation of criminals.” The knowledge that punishment would follow crime might deter young men on the brink where probation will not be a sufficient deterrent.