Problem Or Probation

NZ Truth, Issue 943, 22 December 1923, Page 1

Problem Or Probation

In his lecture on "Crimes nnd Punishments," Magistrate Poynton. of Auckland, while advocating drastic measures m dealing with hardened nnd habitual criminal*, remarked that first offenders should ho given evon' oppor- * t unity to mako good. That should be. done for two reasons. Caols are bad business, especially from an economical viewpoint, 'and there seems no reason why those who have erred onoe should tiot reform and become decent citizen a. Those who have been burnt arc seldom • In a hurry to play \Vlth ihe. Proba- ; tion Is a policy of mercy, which, according to figures given In a recent t tssue of the "Manchester Guardian." thoroughly* Justifies itself. Dealing with the Probation of Offenders Act, - and when addressing the Magistrates' Association m England. Sir Robert Wallace is reported ns stating that out \ of every 100 offenders who had been bound over 05 per cent, never roturned " to otU-olnal life. And tho "Guardian"

comments: "This is an extraordinarily hopeful announcement." Nothing could he more hopeful. Gaols seldom, if ever, reform criminals, some of whom, as Mr. Poynton remarked, look upon the gaol as a sort of home. If Magistrates : can successfully keep offenders but of gaol they are doing a service' to the State, already staggering under tlie cost of prison maintenance. If hy careful extension of probation to first offenders they are able to make good citizens of potential criminals they are doing a service to humanity.