CRIME AND REFORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 17

CRIME AND REFORM

Sir, —The official reports on police, prisons and probation have recently been presented to Parliament. We note that there was a slight increase in the number of offences for 1937; nevertheless, the figure of 1448 is the lowest but one for the past five years. We sent to prison, however, 1991 individuals. It appears that 543 persons were imprisoned for no serious crime against society—a recent authority states: "Every sentence of imprisflVinent which is not necessary is wrong, cruel and a public disservice." The prison daily average, we are pleased to note, is the lowest on record, though still double what it should be. The prisons report, we observe, has no suggestion that there is need for special individual treatment for the alcoholic, the sub-normal and the nervously unstable. Our present mass treatment, even if called by fcho name "reformation," does not cure such individuals, or give society the protection it has a right to receive. Economic conditions, it is clear from the reports, constitute but one of the factors affecting criminality. Social, eduational and psychological factors are alsd profoundly important. A penal system which took account of all these would be much more effective in dealing with the problem. Howard Lkac.uk for Penal Reform.