SPECIAL CASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23491, 31 October 1939, Page 10

SPECIAL CASES

PRISONS BOARD'S WOEK

FULLEST CONSIDERATION REHABILITATING OFFENDERS : The fnct that the Prisons Board regularly reviews cases with the object of rehabilitating offenders without undue risk i.o the community was mentioned bv Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court yesterday when he sentenced two prisoners on charges of indecent assault. His Honor quoted from a letter written by the chairman of the Prisons Board, Sir Hubert Oilier, and published in the New Zealand Law .Journal.

A sentence of reformative detention not exceeding three years was imposed on Daniel Patrick Blake, barman, aged 49, who had been found guilty on three counts of indecent assault on boys. Prisoner was sentenced, on each charge, the terms to be concurrent. Mr. Noble said that until, now prisoner had not been involved in anything against the law. He was an Australian and had come to New Zealand three or four years ago. Something seemed to have happened to him since his arrival in the Dominion. Recommendation by Jury Counsel added that it was obvious the. jury thouglit the case was a patbological , one, because of the certain recommendation it-had made. It might Bo best for. prisoner and society if he could' receive special treatment. ' fit is a bad case of its kind,", said His Honor. "Sufficient has been revealed to make it clear that, whatever 'the cause may be, the prisoner in . his present state is a very serious danger to the community. The jury, no doubt shocked and puzzled by the unnatural nature of some of the offences, has added a rider strongly recommending 'that he be given some form of medical treatment." , His Honor added that the rider would be passed on to the proper authorities. He said he had reason to believe that the study of these cases and some attempt to aid these men to rehabilitate themselves followed as a matter of course in every .case. Regular Review The annual report of the Prisons Board for 1936 was then mentioned by His Honor, and he quoted the section referred to by; Sir Hubert Ostler. Tt • stated that the secretary of the Prisons Board was required to prepare and place before the board a full statement of the circumstances connected witn each case that was brought up for consideration. The board regularly reviewed cases and frequently cases were considered several times before release or discharge was agreed upon, the aim being the rehabilitation Of the offender without undue risk to the community. His Honor also quoted the statement that the ready co-operation of the Director-General of Mental Hospitals and his staff of trained psychiatrists m conducting examinations of prisoners and inmates continued to be of very valuable assistance to the board. "In a case like 'this the only possible thing to do in the interests of society is to protect society from the offender while the' process of rehabilitation is being, carried out," concluded His Honor. Three Years' Term

In the case of Stanley Henry Chapman, labourer, apod 46, who had been found guilty, on three charges of indecent assault on boys, and one of committing an unnatural offence, His Honor said the remarks he had made in the previous case were applicable in this. Prisoner was sentenced to reformative detention not exceeding three years on each charge, the terms to be concurrent. Mr. Noble said prisoner seemed to be a well-educated man. He was an officer in a British regiment in the last war and attained the rank of major. When he came to New Zealand he encaged in .farming and since then had Keen doing casual work Auckland. The_ care and attention given by the authorities to these cases might be of great benefit-to him.