PRISON REFORM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14783, 16 March 1910, Page 5

PRISON REFORM.

' DB FINDLAY'S SCHEME, (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 15. The Hon. Dr Findlay, Minister of Justice, gave particulars of his prison reform scheme to a. New Zealand Times reporter, to-night. The provisions of the indeterminate sentence are extended and made applicable to all cases, though the determinate sentence will be retained in nil proper cases. The following institutions are provided for:—Penitentiaries for male prisoners, institution for sexual perverts and criminals of unsound mind, institution for incorrigible drunkards, prison camps, reformatory farm penitentiaries, and a reformatory for women. Provision is made for an extension ot the probation system and for dealing with occasional and habitual drunkards. Prisoners are to he classified on a. double_basis—first as to type, and secondly as to conduct and improvement. ' The case of every prisoner sento the indeterminate sentence will be reviewed, every three months. Every prisoner by performing his task will earn credit marks having a. definite monetary value. The relief of the dependents of i prisoner will bo a. first charge on, his earnings. All physically capable prisoners will be employed on remunerative works, such as stonemasonry, iroirmoulding, tin-ware-making, book covers and ° bootmaking. Education will be nrovided for illiterates, enabling Fourth Standard requirements in reading, writing, and arithmetic' to be passed. ,Am extension of the prison camp system is proposed, taking in occupations other than treeplanting. Speoial_ provisions arc made for the classification of drunkards.