JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23671, 1 December 1938, Page 12

JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

"HALF-WAY" INSTITUTION NEW SCHEME FOR " TOUGH " CASES 'From Ouh Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Nov. 24. A "half-way" institution for juvenile delinquents will be urged by the Minister for Education (Mr D. H. Drummond). This new system, he hopes, will save many extreme cases among youthful offenders, from gaol. "The existing 'home' system for 'tough ' characters has been proved ineffective," said Mr Drummond, "Escapes have been altogether too frequent during the last year. In most cases the boys who have broken away have committed some criminal act. The Government does not want to send them to prison, but under the present system, this is the only alternative. Honour systems are useless where these extreme cases art concerned. "We propose to set up some new institution where the boys will be placed under firm restraint without the contaminating influences of prisons. Here they will be taught useful trades. Minimum sentences will be fixed at between two and three years to enable a lasting reform to be effected. In this 'halfway' house we hope successfully to combine the functions of the gaoler and instructor, which has failed in present homes." Mr Drummond and the Minister of Justice (Mr L. O. Martin) are conferring with a view to presenting an early report and recommendation to the State Cabinet.