PRISON POPULATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22025, 7 August 1933, Page 9

PRISON POPULATION

TO THE EDITOR. , Sib, —We are often told that the New Zealand prison population ie comparatively much larger than England’s. One obvious reason is that the probation system is used more extensively in England. A judge there will give probation up to four, or even five times, before reluctantly sending a young offender to prison. Here, it seems, we have different methods, as the following will show, as it will also show the extraordinary inconsistencies noticeable on a comparison of sentences. I have substituted initials for names. The same judge was responsible for all the sentences, and these come from the Auckland district: —C. N., aged 19, after being on remand for nearly four mouths, was found guilty of firing a revolver at J. P. 8., a garage proprietor, at Mercer, on April 14, and was committed to the Borstal for a period of live years. A. H. C., for two indecent assaults, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment; A. C., for indecent assault, to three years; and E. W, S., for incest, to four years. I think no further comment necessary.—I am, etc., D. M. M.