YOUTHFUL CRIMINALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19081, 28 July 1925, Page 10

YOUTHFUL CRIMINALS.

the borstal institutions.

NEW REGULATIONS MADE.

REFORMATION THE OBJECT.

ENCOURAGING THE INMATE.

[BT TUJSOBAPH. —61-IKIAI, ttErOUTER.] WELLINGTON. Monday. New and comprehensive regulations to coma into force as from August have been gazetted under the Prevention of Crimes Act, governing Borstal institutions. Thoao regulations throw an interesting light on tho efforts tho Prisons Department is making to reclaim the juvenile offender and to sot his or her foutsteps in tlie' right direction. Iu a great many instances-the offender [on entry to tho institution has no knowledge of any trade and his chief qualifications in his battlo with tho world for 'subsistence aro his nimble wits or his (Jibility to break, enter and steaL When ! iio leaves tho Borstal Institution ho has generally acquired a trade, a moderate sum of money, and a better idea of tlie social system. The definition of Borstal Institute under the Act is a place in which a young offender while detained may bo given such occupational training and other instruction and bo subject to such disciplinary and moral influence as will conduce to his reformation and tho prevention of crime. The Act operates in respect to thoso committed to Borstal institutes for an indictable offenco, where the offender is not less than 15 nor moro than 21 years of ago, for a period of not less titan two years nor moro than five years. Three Grades ol Inmate. Well conducted inmates of a Borstal institution arc classified under the new regulations into three grades, to bo known as tho probationary, higher and special grades. On the admission of any person to a Borstal institute he or she is committed to tho probationary grade and from there promoted to tho higher grades according to ability and good conduct. Each grade carries with it special privileges ascending in proportion to tho grado itself. In addition to the grades provision is made in every institution for what is known as the penal class or punishment grade, where those inmates are placed wno either exercise a bad influence over other inmates or are not amenable to discipline or instruction. In this manner the difficult type of young criminal is segregated, and u he proves irresponsible is transferred to work out the unexpired portiuo of his term of imprisonment in gaol. Where a person is charged before a stipendiary magistrate with an oii'enco punishable by imprisonment for more than okd month and it appears to tho magistrate that the person chaiged is not less than 15 or more, than 21 years of age, tho magistrate may make an order of detention in a Borstal institution for a term of not less than one year nor more than threo years. Thin jurisdiction, however, is not given to justices of the peace. A probation officer reports on tho suitability of every case for treatment before the offender is committed to an institution. Any inmatq of an institution may be transferred back to prison to serve the unexpired portion of his sentence where he is found to l>« unsuitable or amenable to instruction. i. Provision For Earnings. If an inmate, during the first three months of his detention, has been industrious and well-conducted ho is credited with earnings at the rate of one penny for each good conduct mark thereafter awarded. On the other hand, if his industry and conduct have not been satisfactory ho is not credited with any earnings until he can satisfy the authorities that he has improved to such an extent as to warrant this privilege being granted to him. Those offenders who have been relegated to tho penal class are not credited with any, earnings during tho period they are so classified. For tho purpose of regulating tho release on license of inmates tho Prisons Board also functions as a parole board, and on inquiry may recommend to the Minister an inmate's release on license. In order to ensuro that the offender on parole will carry out tho conditions 'of tho license npon which ho has been released tho Minister may demand a guarantee from .-my person or society under whoso control he is placed. For misconduct inmates may be punished by los:5 of privileges, limited reduction of dietary, solitary confinement not exceeding three days on bread and water, fine, or transfer to tho penal class.