THE DELINQUENT CHILD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19471, 29 October 1926, Page 14

THE DELINQUENT CHILD

A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM. CRIMINALS OF THE FUTURE. PLEA FOR USE OF SCIENCE. A most instructive address on juvenile delinquency from the vewpoint of a trained psychiatrist was given at the Child Welfare Conference yesterday by Dr. Mildred Staley, who, as deputy-governor and medical officer of the Aylesbury, prison and Borstal institution for women, had a wide practical experience of the subject. She was. followed by Miss Jean Begg, of the Y.W.C.A., whq had undergone special training n the same field in America. Dr. Staley stated definitely that by psychological diagnosis and treatment a large proportion of delinquent children could be set upon the right road and prevented from becoming, as they otherwise would, the criminals of the future. The "problem child," said the speaker, was not necessarily deficient in the mental sense. Their abnormality showed itself in a number of ways, such as exhibitions of temper, cruelty, lying, stealing, moroseness, and resentment. Some were clever, but unbalanced. They were a puzzle to parents, teachers, and doctors. Such children were potential criminals, and it was significant that about 45 per cent, of adult prisoners had nervous or mental instability themselves, or in their families. The Child's Sick Soul. Punishing "problem children" did no good. It saddened her to see in the Children's Court many children who were obviously in this class, and who, under the present New Zealand method of dealing with them, seemed most unlikely to have their problems solved. Many "of them had powers which, if freed, could bo of real value to the nation.

There was no one key to the situation. Each child must be studied from three points of view—social, physical, and mental. To begin with all contributing factors, such as physical defects, should be dealt with, and then an attempt should be made to treat the child's 3ick' soul. Investigation had shown that families with a history of alcoholism or syph'ilis provided a large proportion of the cases. The children usually were those of parents either weak and over-indulgent, selfish and neglectful, or incapable through drunkenness or feeble-mindedness. It was agreed that, everything else apart, the moral tone of the homo had a most important effect.'

Lately in the Children's Court she had seen a greatly overgrown boy charged with stealing a bicycle. This boy was very probably suffering from a particular physical trouble, which was the direct cause of his offence—lie had wanted the bicycio in ordej; to go to his father. Proper treatment might possibly have rid him of his mental strains and stresses. Case of a Little Girl. Delinquent children, who were intelligent, clever, and graded as normal in regard to their lessons, were known by the term psychopaths. They knew right from wrong, but their judgment was faulty and they made wrong use of their mental powers. Some time back she had come across a little girl of nine who was in trouble for persistently stealing. Nothing could break her of the habit. Punishment and admonitions did no good, and school medical officers had examined her without, result, She set out lo study the child, had a number of interviews with her, and made' use a little hypnotism. At length she found out the cause of the trouble. The little girl was not living with her parents, who had separated. Tie father was a drunkard and had illtreated the mother. The child had been stealing ail kinds of things and hiding them with the intention of giving them to her mother as a recompense for what ske had suffered at the father's hands. As soon as the cause had been discovered, the trouble was set right and the child became happy and well-behaved. It should bo the aim to take in hand such children and prevent them from becoming habitual criminals later on. The treatment involved their removal from school for a time. It' could not be applied by a hurried and busy school medical officer, because it involved almost daily contact with the child for two or three weeks. In her view it was essential that the Government should have ;n each of the large cities a trained psychiatrist for dealing with both children and adults. The expenditure would yield a good return. A Neglected Report.

Another class of "problem children" were dull or feeble-minded. These also were potential criminals. They were often the victims not only of bad heredity but. of evil influences ns well. No delinquent child of either class should be boarded out until they had been "surveyed" in the way she "had indicated, and no feeble-minded child should on any account be boarded out.

She greatly regretted, said Dr. Staley, that the report of the Royal Commission on mental defectives and sexual offenders had been shelved for two years. The Government could hardly say that tho country had no money for carrying out tlie recommendations, .seeing that £8.700,000 was wasted every year on drink.

Tho principal needs were (1) a bureau of mental hygiene and research, allied to the Education Department and other services concerned; (2) saner laws recarding the permanent segregation .of feeble-minded and other unfit persons; (3) farm colonies for psychopaths; (4) trained psychiatrists working in conjunction with the Courts and tho bureau of mental research.

Miss Besrg. in the course of her remarks, said that there was need in New Zealand for care of delinquent children on the same scale as that Riven to destitute, blind, deaf, crippled, insane, imbecile and hackward children, all of whom were well provided for. "Crime" in Schools. In public schools, said Miss Begg, were to he found examples 'of every crime except higamv. (Laughter.) Children stole, did violence to each other and committed many acts like those for which adults were tried and punished. All crime had its origin in maladjustment. Courts and all the machinery of justice existed simply in get people to chan.ee their habits. Delinquency in the early stages could bo successfully treated. She considered that- before any person was brought to trial his case should be thoroughly investigated on scientific lines and a report presented. The convicted offender should be kept under the' continuous, supervision of experts in possession of full data. Motions were carried advocating the establishment of a bureau of juvenile research, as recommended by the Royal Commission on mental defectives: the appointment of psychiatrists in the four centres; adequate provision for the permanent. custody and care of all committed delinquent children and feebleminded persons.