NEW SOUTH WALES PRISON REFORM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 12

NEW SOUTH WALES PRISON REFORM.

Sir,—Captain Neitenstein has entered upon a new departure in criminology in New South Wales. Ho releases prisoners upon probation after they have served a portion of sentence. Captain Neitenstein anticipates that the measure will bo attended with great success, both from a deterrent and reformative point of view. It appears to me that this departure has much to commend it, and I enclose a cony of the regulations, if you can find spaco for republication—l am, etc., John F, M. Tiuser. (a). The Comptroller-general may recommend that any prisoner may, by good eonduct and industry, be granted "a remission of sentence in accordance with the following scale and conditions, but in 110 case will a recommendation be made that a term of imprisonment be reduced to less than three months, or that any remission bo allowed on. any period passed in separate treatment:— Sentences Exceeding Twedve Months. Female prisoners having no previous convictions of any hind—a remission not exceeding one-third of the sentence. Applicable to Prisoners of Both Sexes. Haying no previous recorded conviction of six months or upwards—a remission not exceeding one-fourth of the sentence. Having .one such previous conviction—a remission not exceeding one-fifth of the sentence. Having more than one such previous conviction—a remission not exceeding one-sixth o[ the sentence, The ConlptroJlei-geiinmtl miay '/ecommend that conditional release be substituted for absolute discharge in special cases where previous have been served. Sentenoes Not Exceeding Twelve Months, but Exceeding Three Months. Prisoners who have not actually served a, sentence of or exceeding 48 hours, whether in default of paying a fine or otherwise— a remission not exceeding one-fourth of the sentence. Prisoners having previously served one such sentence—a remission not exceeding onefifth of the sentence. Prisoners having previously served two or more such sentences—a remission not exceeding one-sixth of the sentence. Provided that the Comptroller-general may recommend that, in lieu of any remission under the foregoing scale, any male prisoner, wider the age of 25 years at the date of his conviction; or any female prisoner, serving a sentence in either case which has not less fett niiic ©outba \o juu an tbo Ist July,

1903, or who, on and after that date, is | sentenced to imprisonment for not less than ( nine months, may be granted a license, under section 463 of "The Crimes Act, 1900," to be at !argo within the limits specified in the lieonso during tho unexpired portion ot his or her sentence, subjict to the following. amongst other conditions: — (a) That the licensee lie of good behaviour; (b) That Hio licensee shall-not associato with persons of had character; (c) That the licensee shall report to the Comptroller-general at suclf times and places and in such manner as lie may from time to time* direct by endorsement on the license. In like mnnnor the Comptroller-general, where he is of the opinion that any of the conditions are not observed by the licensee, may Tecommend that the licenso be revoked. (g) In dealing with the cases sent in for remission when tho conduct of the prisoner is returned as "good," and ho lias corned tho whole number of ordinary and industrioutj nmrks obtainable, the fn'.l remission may bo recommended.'