SAVING YOUTH FROM CRIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23203, 29 May 1937, Page 28

SAVING YOUTH FROM CRIME

In his experience nothing was more Important in the administration of the criminal law than to Fave young people, said the Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Hewart, in addressing the National Society of Probation Officers. "When a youth is sent to prison for the first time he learns some dreadful facts," he said. "He learns that prison is not nearly so cold as he thought it would be. He learns that the food is much better than he expected. He gets thoroughly used to it and when his punishment really begins and he finds it difficult to earn an honest living, he is not too reluctant to go back." Apart from sentiment, the wise and prudent course was to save youngsters from making their acquaintance of gaol. ''. Th , a t theory Is .now universally recognised, he said. " I am impressed by the fact that so many persons are sent to prisons at a very early age." It wax

so easy, when a young fellow had been found guilty, to bind him over. "This profoundly valuable method of probation was not yet employed as it ough> to be." Viscount Halifax, confirming Lord Hewart's view, said that it had become clear that it was of the first importance to have regard to the | mental state of an offender. He had observed three very significant facts i —that most criminal offences were petty offences; that 94 per cent, of crimes in Britain were crimes against property; and that the age group 13-17 was responsible for more offences than any other. Each case demanded individual investigation-