MODERN PRISONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20892, 5 December 1929, Page 3

MODERN PRISONS.

PROBLEMS OF REFORMATION AND AFTER CARE. ADDRESS BY MR B. DALLARD. A most interesting addreee on the treat, ment in ancient and modern times of offenders against the law was delivered to the Masterton Rotary Club on Thursday last by Mr B. Dallard, Comptrollergeneral of Prisons and Assistant Public Service Commissioner (says the- Wairarapa Ago). Mr H. H. Daniell presided over a good attendance. In the course of his address, Mr DaJlard said that he felt that in talking to Rotariaus, he was riot “ wasting sweetness on the desert air.” The Rotary orfanisation. stood for service and the 'risons Department had already had practical evidence of this at the Invercargill and Waikeria Borstal Institutions, at each of which a splendid band of Rotations regularly visited and assisted in the socialising work. His department greatly appreciated this valuable help. He hoped that he might be able to reveal a further avenue of service relating to what was known as “after care.” Experience showed that some organised system-of “after care" was an integral and vital part of any sound penal system. In the absence of provision for supervisory care and placement on release, there was almost certain to be a drift back to the old associations and habits. This salvage work, for such it was in the highest sense, was an public service. It must be borne in.mind, particularly in the case of young offenders, that a life deflected from a career of crime meant the conversion of a social liability into a social asset. Mr Dallard went on to review in some detail the development of penalogical ideas and the'work of the Prisons Department in New Zealand. The development of the prison system, he observed, had been largely one of trial by error, and it was interesting to observe the change in recent years in the viewpoint or angle from which the treatment of prisoners was regarded. As compared with primitive times the element of protetion and deterence came to bo given greater prominence and later, arising out of the idea of the futility of punishment for punishments sake, the idea of reform was developed. In considering the reformative aspect, there was just a danger of the swing of the pendulum to too opposite an extreme. Fussiness and sympathy arising out of emotionalism had a decidedly more ill-effect than severity. The keynote of the modern system was the individualisation of punishment. Presentday . prison methods involved a careful study of personality, a study of the offender rather. than of the offence. It was not by preaching the old doctrine that “ the way of the transgressqr is hard,” but by endeavouring to tpuen 'that chord in man’s make-up that would stimulate response to things more noble and worth while that results were sought. In the course of a survey of the growth of the prisons system in ■ New Zealand, Mr .Dallard said that the main purpose of imprisonment to-day . was to protect , society. Experience showed that this could best be achieved by endeavouring to reform the offender, and; as far as pos- : sible, by inculcating habits of industry, to engender self-reliance and self-respect. Experience showed that . the greater privileges Recorded to prisoners were bearing true fruit in the shape of better discipline, greater industry, and contentment. • Much had been done in recent years to improve prison conditions in the matter of dietary, comforts, and general conditions of work. At the came time, in modern penology it was recognised that. , while reasonable conditions were essential to contentment, the hab't of reform lay not so much in good conditions as in the development of selfdiscipline, self-respect, and a sense of corporate, responsibility. The object of prison treatment and training was not .solely to make good prisoners, but to. make good citizens. The problem of dealing with youthful offenders bad also been given much greater' consideration than hitherto. The aim of the Borstal training was a balanced round of work, education, andrecreation, the . essential purpose being to develop a senes of selfrespect and self-reliance and habits of industry ‘ and co-operation, so essential to tit inmates for a life of freedom and responsibility,* and at-the same time equip them to take - their place in the community with confidence and a reasonable prospect of success. . In. addition, to reformative effort within the institutions, greater consideration was also given to the question of “ after-care.” “It is becoming more definitely realised," said Mr Dallard, “ that unless a prisoner on discharge js enabled to obtain employment ana rehabilitate himself, the efforts in prison to reform him or to stimulate. in him habits of industry are likely to be futile and misspent. An English authority recently observed that ‘ a prison habitual must naturally in the present temper of society find great external hindrances to recovery. A. social stigma rests upon him; the attitude of both employers and workmates makes it difficult for him to obtain work. It. is this negative attitude and .the difficulties that beset the prisoner in rehabilitating himself, that are responsible for a large amount of recidivism.’ “It is for the purpose of creating a more charitable and constructive attitude towards those, who have paid the price exacted by society for their infringement of its laws that the department' has ar- - ranged for. the establishment of voluntary committees to be associated with our probation officers throughout the Dominion. Already excellent work has been done, and had I the time I could give many instances, but there is still a great field for effort, and it is here that I would seek the co-operation of Rotarians in this district."