OUR PRISON POPULATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20499, 29 August 1928, Page 10

OUR PRISON POPULATION.

DOMINION’S PENAL SYSTEM. DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT, i ( (Special to Daily Times.) i 1 WELLINGTON, August 28. , Although with a total of 4664 com- ] raittals there was a slight increase last 1 year in the number of receptions into the prisons and institutions controlled by the Prisons Department, it is satis- ; factory to note that there has been a small decrease in the number of distinct persons received as compared with the . two previous years, says the annual re- , port of the Prisons Department pre- ; sented to Parliament to-day. The number of persons received last year was 2711, equal to 18.84 per 10,000 of the ■■ population, compared with 2755 in 1926 and 2890 in 1925. The report notes that 1 it is satisfactory to observe that the | prison population is not increasing, the . iiigb ratio of prisoners to the mean ; population being due to the adverse economic conditions with their attendant unemployment troubles. The majority of the 225 committals of persons under the age of 20 were in respect of offences against property, 130 being for theft and deceit. Of these young offenders 199 \ were New .Zealand born. Of the total | number of distinct persons committed : just under 58. per cent, were New Zealand born, and as the ratio of New Zea- , land born to the total of the population is 65 per cent, it follows that crime is i slightly lower among the New Zealand born than amongst the remainder of the population. The report says that although there is ro for reflection in consequence of the amount of crime among New Zealand born adolescents, the general position as shown by the-prison statistics does not give ground for undue alarm, for a very large percentage of the committals was in respect.of fairly venial offences. Satisfactory work at the Borstal institutions is noted, and it is emphasised that 'lie results obtained disclose a state which justify the claim that the Borstal system is the most constructive and helpful plank in the Dominion’s penal system to-day. After discussing the work carried on in the various prisons the report says that the attention that has been devoted to the economic side of the department’s work has given rise to the suggestion in some quarters that the department is commercialising prison labour, but an intelligent review of the position makes it fairly obvious that the social and the - economic activities are interdependent. Both are essential in any reasonably balanced scheme of reformative treatment. The useful and productive employment of prisoners is beneficial in many ways. It aids the prisoner’s ultimate fitness to resume his place in the community, while at the same time it keeps down the burden on the taxpayer, but in no case is the welfare of the prisoner subordinated entirely to economic considerations. WORK OF PRISONS BOARD. During the year the Prisons Board dealt with 1250 cases. There were 312 recommendations for release on probation, 129 petitions were deferred, 110 declined, 74 recommended for discharge from prison on probation, 15 offender probationists ordered discharge, seven habitual criminals remission of hard labour, and three recommended variation in the terms of their probation. Of the total number released after undergoing reformative detention 22.87 per cent, have been returned to prison either for non-compli-ance with the conditions of their release, or for committing further offences, 2.08 per cent, have left the Dominion or absconded, 0.60 per cent, have died or been transferred to mental hospitals, etc., leaving 78.85 per cent, who have not further offended. Of the total number of habitual criminals released on probation 55.96 per cent, were returned to prison either for non-compliance with the conditions of their probation or for committing further offences. No offences are recorded against the remaining 44.04 per cent., but our tables show that 3.89 per cent, died or were transferred to mental hospitals, whilst 18.91 per cent, left the Dominion or absconded. This leaves a definite per centage. of 21.24 who have remained in the Dominion, and have not further offended. The president of the board (Sir Williafh Sim), in concluding his re- ■ port, writes: "It is with regret that the board records the retirement of Sir Walter Stringer and Sir George Fenwick. Sir Walter’s appointment as president came to an end when he retired from the Supreme Court bench. Sir George Fenwick, who has been a member of the board since its inception, found that with advancing years he was obliged to give up a larger amount of his public work which involved considerable travelling at all times of the year. Both gentlemen have been untiring in their efforts on behalf of the board, and have given their services willingly in a work which has had their keenest interest.