WORK OF PRISONS BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22365, 12 September 1934, Page 4

WORK OF PRISONS BOARD

THE VALUE OF AFTER-CARE INCREASED USE OF ALIENISTS (JTkom Otm Parliamentary Reporter) ' WELLINGTON,, September 11. The operations of the Prisons Board during last year, which may bfe regarded as very satisfactory, are reviewed in the annual report of the board, which was tabled in the House of Representatives to-day. It is stated that the number of cases considered by the board shows a steady increase -yearly, due chiefly to the courts recognising the advantage of substantial sentences of Borstal detention and reformative detention over short sentences of imprisonment as a corrective. • ’The statistics show that the percentage of those who responded and evidently made good is being well maintained.

The board observes that prisoners who have been dealt with under the system .of reformative detention are, of course, less prone again to offend than those who have been declared habitual criminals, but it :is nevertheless a source-of gratification that a fair pro portion of the latter have proved themselves sufficiently trustworthy once more to take and to keep their places among their fellow citizens. It is to be remembered that they are often heirs to criminal tendencies that have in many cases been aggravated by the surroundings of their youth. To discard this heritage apd - become useful citizens is no easy task. The following decisions had been made by the board during the year:— Recommended for release on probation .. .. .. .. .... 680 Deferred for further consideration 945 Petitions declined .. 64 Recommended for discharge .. .. 21 Discharged from probation .. .. 29 The board was much impressed with the great value of post-prison care. Experience had definitely proved that as a general rule prisoners, including those even not of a pronounced criminal type, were , unable to govern themselves properly without some helping and guiding hand to carry them over the dangerous period immediately following their release. Provision had been made for this need by the appointment of probation officers and probation and Borstal committees, who were connected with philanthropic organisations, and whose services were highly valued and recognised by the.board. During the year the board had made considerable use of the mental specialists attached to the Mental Hospitals Department for the purpose of examining and reporting on persons for the information of the board.

The board commenced to function in 1911, since which time 20,802 cases had been considered.