PRISON REFORM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 21 March 1910, Page 7

PRISON REFORM.

DR. FINDLAY '» SCHEME. / • THE IMPODBTMT CHANGES. Puller details of the scheme the Government has adopted for the complete reorganisation-of the prison system, of New Zealand are of interest. Legislation, says the "Post,V will be required to give full effect to the scheme, and this will 'be submitted to Parliament toy the Attorney-General-next session. The Hon. J)r Findlay, who is responsible'for this important departure in prison-reform, says that when in full operation it .will show a savmg on the present system. The new system is'based, it is stared, upon the principles of modova penal science as those principles are expressed in the most efficient penal

institutions throughout the world. It is adapted to meet the present and prospective requirements of this country, and also to utilise as far as possible the buildings, equipment, ami administrative machinery already ox-

isting. Besides State institutions, official recognition is given to the work ot private agencies, and their assistance requisitioned wheresoever available and adaptable. 'The provisions of the indeterminate sentence are extended and made applicable to all proper cases. vvheu the indeterminate sentence is applied, the release of the prisoner depends upon himself." When the prisoner has served any determinate sentence imposed upon him, and is able to prove that ne is in a position to support himself, and can give satisfactory assurances that he is no'longer a menace to the pence and order of society, his release :s granted. The questions and conditions of release are determined fcv - r < tribunal of suitable experts. Except that in the case of any person convicted of a crime punishab'e by hard 'a-

bour for life, the power of release shall foe exercised Toy the Govrnor--n-Council. The determinate sentence will still be retained in all proper cases The following institutions are provided for:— Penitentiaries for male prisoners. An institution for sexual perveis and criminals of unsound mind. 7. An institution for incorrigible drunkards.. Prison camps. A reformatory farm. A penitentiary and reformatory for women. Most of the institutions existing at present will :be used in this arrangement. Napier and Duuedin present so many difficulties on account ot their situation, design, and the imp>ssibility of installing necessary industries that, as soon as proper provision can be made, they will be ci»sed. PRIVATE AGENCIES. Tjv requisitioning the aid of private agencies, provision s made ff-r —Kxfi 1 !'- sion of the probation system, and dealing with occasional and habitaai drunkards. , Privileges are placed within the attainment of prisoners; but these a\\ be gained oniy oy industry and moral improvement. 'Concessions are granted to those physically or ment:P> afflicted when such concessions are ie.cessarv in the interests of humanity. .Indulgences are never granted. The discipline provides that throughout his whole waking time the prisoner is kept employed at industrial or educational work, or at proper exercises. The standard of effort mast compare favourabl" with that of the free labourer before any privileges cr favourable recommendation for release can 'be gained. .'.l he hope of reward is the main stimulus to iinproveme.nl.

CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS.

Prisoners are to be classified upon a double basis-—Firstly, as to type; stcondly, a to conduct and improvement. Acording to the first classification, prisoners' are distributed to the d.visions of the various institutions and agencies; according to the second classification, they are graded within those institutions." The classification according to type is as follows:

L Professional criminals. 2. Sexual perverts 3. criminals of unsound mind. 4. Drunkards. i 5. Incipient and pseudo criminals. 0. Corrigible 'Criminals. 7. The rest of the criminal class. Female's—' 8. Incorrigible. 9. Corrigible. 10. Incipient and pseudo criminals. 11. Criminals of unsound mind. CLASSIFICATION OF INSTITUTIONS. Institutions are classified in order to enable the more concentrated amplication of methods suited for the treatment of the different classes of criminals. Each class requires special treatment, and were all classes to be confined in any one prison differeniiftion of treatment would be impossible. Institutions are classified as follow: 1. Penitentiaries for the detenta: of criminals enumerated in class 1. 2. Criminal asvlum for classes 2, S. and 11. ' ; ; f iJ : £ 3. An inebriate institution for incorrigible drunkards. 4. Reformatories for class G. 0. Camps, (i. An institution equipped as s penitentiary and a reformatory for classes 8 and 9. 7. Private institutions for classes 5. 10, and the occasional and habituals of class 4. -. .; REVIEW OF SENTENCES. The case of every prisoner sentenced to the indeterminate sentence will be reviewed every three months by f. competent expert tribunal, which may order his release if it considers ho is no longer a menace to the peace and order of society. NEW MARKS SYSTEM. Tu classifying the criminals at work care will 'be taken to give them occupations which will direct the.'-' minds into channels which are out of sympathy with, and in no way ingest, their former manner of life. For instance, cracksmen will not be employed at stonedrcssing or where blasting is carried on. •Classifiearion wil] .be upon two methods, that of conduct and work. The conduct grades are three i" number, and admission to the higher grades is gained by good conduct and industry, and as a result, there are corresponding privileges. Each prisoner, by performing his task, will earn credit marks, which have a definite monetary value. The relief of the dependents of a prisoner is made thf-.i first charge upon his earnings.

PRISON CAMPS. An extension of the prison-camp system is proposed, by which they will be graded, and provision made for the transference of disorderly men to a camp where life and work are less congenial and where privileges are fewer. \i insubordinate they are transferred 10 the penitentiary, from which they cannot return to a camp until they have •secured a good conduct record for twelve months, and their transfer be otherwise aproved of by the authorities. Hitherto the prisoners at these camps have only been occupied in tree-planting, but it is now proposed to include stone quarrying, cement manufacture} formic-making, fcwnmpdraitiing, nee-planting, and other public works, DiRUNKARPS. Drunkards are to Ibe classified in four degrees, ranging from "casuals.'' who get drunk at rare intervals, to "incorrigi'bles," who, besides -being habitual drunkards, combine minor oaenccs with their drunkenness. "Casuals" will be. dealt with Infilling.'but "occasional'' and "habituals" are admited to a specified form of probation. The former are commit' ted iby the magistrate to the custody of a probation officer, whose duty it is to see that his charge reports himself every evening not later than a

prescribed hour at the institution at which the proabtion officer has charge. The offender remains in the institutim-, all night, and leaves after breaklst in the morning, provided that he h:e--occupation to go to. His wages arc not paid to himseif, but to his wife, or a receiving officer, as the magistral thinks fit and directs.

An habitual drunkard is to be admitted to a term of pronation und.'-r more stringent regulations. Incorrigible drunkards are to 'be committed to imprisonment in a State inebriate institution.

Agricultural and industrial reformatories are to be estaolished. A central prison is to be established for the. detention of females sentenced to imprisonment. There will also be a penilout iarv for women deemed io be liaibilual criminals.

It is proposed to extend the prolutiiin system, which will incli-dc "simple pnbafion." "night deicv iion," and "close detention.'"'