PRISON POPULATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18611, 19 January 1924, Page 10

PRISON POPULATION.

INCREASE IN BRITAIN. There was an increaso of 3910 in the number of persons sent to prison in Britain during tho year ended March last, compared with the year before. Tho total was 60,832, against 56,922. " Of this increase," states the Prisons Commissioners' report, "no fewer than 3728 were debtors." Tho total number imprisoned as debtors or on civil process wnp 12,095, against 1030 in 1918-19. Serious crime, it is stated, does not appear to bo increasing. The report adds: " It is probably right to say that unemployment is one ot the chief contributory factors to.l the prison population of to-day; and, further, that its effect is cumulative — is to say, a man becomes gradually demoralised by prolonged idleness. . "Laxity of idonduct, which had its origin in war conditions, still gives rise to a substantial number of commitments. " Governors' and chaplains' reports bring out clearly the fact that numbers of the persons committed were in good employment. Some had become accustomed to. a high sate, of expenditure yi the years immediately following 'the war, and took to dishonesty to supplement their incomes when their salaries were reduced. " Others had contracted hasty war marriages, and now refuse to obey tho maintenance orders issued by tho Courts."