PENAL REFORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19797, 18 November 1927, Page 12

PENAL REFORM.

VALUE OF PROBATION. EFFORTS FOR EXTENSION. GREAT SUCCESS OF SYSTEM. A meeting of the Auckland branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform was held last evening, Mr. A. J. Stratford presiding. In a review of the branch's work since its formation last March, Dr. Mildred E. Staley said permission had been granted the league to appoint special prison visitors. Arrangements had also been made for cultural classes to be held at tho prison, and lectures would be given under the auspices of the Workers' Educational Association. Dr. Staley spoke at length upon the need for assisting discharged prisoners to make good. The league aimed at carrying out extensive work in an effort to reform the penal system in the direction of extending the benefits of probation. Mr. E. C. Cult en, S.M., said crime was on the increase in New Zealand. Official figures showed that (he number of convictions increased by 11,660 between 1925 and 1926. In 1925 the increase in the Dominion's daily prison population, compared with 1924, was 67 per cent. The benefits of probation were proved beyond doubt. Of those discharged from prison on licence in 1924 and 1925, only 24 per cent, had not been recommitted, whereas only 12£ per cent, of those released on probation had not made good. Wherever the defect in the country's penal laws was it was not in the probation system, which should be encouraged on every hand. "There are not so many criminals in the country," said tho Eev. Jasper Calder. "However, there is a tremendous number of people badly brought up. There is a great work to be done in penal reform, but I implore you not to go into the prison with a dogged reform look in your eyes, or the look of those pernicious people who will improve the whole world in five minutes." He appealed for a greater understanding of the criminal. There was a lack of understanding by the bulk of Supreme Court judges in imposing sentences, and too much consideration was given to police reports and not enough to those of social workers, medical men and others. There was not enough co-ordination in the enforcing of sentences. A judge did not know what became of a man after he was sentenced, or whether any stipulations made were carried out.