PRISONERS' HOLIDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

PRISONERS' HOLIDAYS.

GERMAN NOVEL METHODS.

PRIVILEGES FOR CRIMINALS,

Holidays for prisoners form one of the most important innovations of Germany's new penal code, of which details have recently been made public. Drawn up in Prussia, with tho co-operation of both doctors and jurists, the new methods of treating tho anti-social members of the community are likely to bo followed not only by tho rest of tho German Federal States, but also by other countries already interested in German prison roforms.

A few weeks ago Ihe first play written and performed entirely by men serving long terms of imprisonment was given at the model prison at Straubing, in Bavaria, the source of all the most startling experiments on tho Continent to-day. Under the new code it is hoped that the first term of years of the inexperienced Criminal will teach him more about the decent ways of living than ever lie bad tho chance to learn outside. The old offender, if he be a burglar, violent or otherwise, or ono of tho criminal classes whose delinquencies can be traced to influence and surroundings, will pass through three classes of establishments. At the first house the prisoner has much work and few privileges, at tho second tho privileges multiply, and at the third ho can gain so much self-respect that when ho leaves it his mind will have received impressions and learned a trade that should make a return to the old life appear less desirable than formerly.

All crimes committed under the influence of certain states of mind definitely recognisable as pathological will bo handed over for investigation to an institution whose governor is a doctor. Occupations will bo given to tho criminal, according to expert medical opinion, and tho strictest investigation made into 1113 heredity and status in tho world of biology, pure and simple.

The holiday treatment applies to all savo the last class of prisoners. Tho prisoner in the " first-grade" house gets none. In the " second grade" ho may have a week annually, spread, if he so desires it, over seven completo days. Those in tho " third grado" can obtain a fortnight. The life sentence, as such, loses its terrors, as contact with tho' outside world is maintained.