FIRST OFFENDERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6383, 4 December 1907, Page 9

FIRST OFFENDERS.

Leniency towards first offenders become* every vear a more settled rule of biiglisn Court practice. Apart from its benefit to the individual, it is found to work ojit much letter In the public interest than th« majority of the magistrates and iudgea could be persuaded to believe up to a few years ago. Mr WaJlace, the chairman of the Clerkcnwell Sessions, states thai 29,003 fewer persons were sent Ip prison, in the lost twelve months than m the previous year, and aa one of the chief causes of tho “general diminution In serious crime" which has become noticeable, he names the great effort now being made to prevent first offenders from sinking into tho ranks of tho hardened criminal does. Recent legislation has given tho Oourta Sewer, not, only to bind prisoncfß over to come us for judgment when called upon, but also to mnJio special orders In regard to thorn. "An illustration of tho nevf system," Mr Wallace states, "is tho appointment of what I may call a'Judicial guardian or probation officer, whooc duty i will bo to watch oyer tboso bound over, to advise and help them, and if poanibla to obtain work for them when they have a difficulty in getting it for, tiicmselrea. f rom the beginning of next year over;.- Court ■will have one of these special officers at tachod to it. The order under which first offenders are released In future can have various restrictions coupled with it, such as that the released person must not associate with known thieves, must be temperate. or, if necessary, that he must abstain altogether from intoxicating liquor. 'Jho judges find that as a rule first offenders have a genuine desire to secure their rehabilitation, and the hcr.t practical proof of inis, a« Mr Wallace notes, is the marked decline in the record of serious crime which must bo punished with imprisonment.