PRISON POPULATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26245, 31 August 1946, Page 4

PRISON POPULATION

A DOWNWARD TREND PROBLEM OF ESCAPEES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. A downward trend in prison population is shown in the annual report of the Controller-general of Prisons, Mr B. L. Dallard, which has been presented in the House of Representatives. The net receptions of direct committals by courts during 1945 were 3008, compared with 3284 for the previous year. The number of distinct persons dealt with wa5,2065, made up of 1973 males and 92 females, compared with a total of 2099 for the previous year. The report stated that offences against persons last year totalled 226, those against property 985 and miscellaneous offences 854. Although the aggregate number of offences had fallen slightly, there had been a small increase in the number of offences against persons and against property. This, unhappily, was symptomatic of a drift that appeared to have set in, the numbers since the beginning of this year having shown an upward movement. Proportions, under the various terms of sentence, had remained fairly static, although the number who received sentences of five years or over was fewer than for several years past. During the year, approximately 50 per cent, of the total number of distinct persons dealt with by the courts were sentenced to threemonths or less. Short Sentences The report stated that the experience of a short sentence usually merely served to accustom a man to prison conditions and diminished what should be a wholesome dread of penal institutions. Approximately 30 per cent, of total receptions were what might be called petty recidivists who had been in and out of prison several times, many of whom had qualified to be declared habitual offenders. Short sentences did not deter these as time was the essential element In habit formation, and in giving effect to a course of training which might assist in rehabilitation on release, time also was a factor from the deterrent point of view for the reason that under the present ameliorated prison conditions, the loss of liberty was virtually the one punitive factor in imprisonment. Unless an offence was such as to call for a salutary penalty, it was often better to have recourse to some alternative to imprisonment such as probation. New Zealand-born offenders (excluding Maoris) committed to prison last year totalled 1109. the report continues. Maoris totalled 430 and British and foreign offenders 526. The proportion of Maoris committed to prison still substantially exceeded those of European stock, and the pumber of serious charges of a sexual nature by Maoris had increased, During the year 63 prisoners were received into prison from the army and air force. With a view to avoiding any lessening of the calorific content of the prison ration, the meat ration to prisoners remained at 16 ounces a day. This was because prisoners were unable to procure substit-'te foods. The butter, sugar, and tea ration had been reduced, bringing it into conformity with the ration allowed to the civilian population. ! ” During the year 21 prisoners and 23 Eorstal detainees escaped from custody.” the report states. "All were recaptured. Having regard to character and the dispositions of those In the department’s care under a system where the reposing of trust is an important element, escapes are bound to occur. Those whose lapse into crime has largely been due to a life of Indiscipline naturally chafe under restraint. Escapes occasion serious inconvenience in institution management, and dislocation of work, besides otten causing grave ' anxiety to the civilian population In the particular locality. The courts generally tak- a grave view of these violations of trust when escapes do occur, but the Prisons Board gives close attention, to these cases, and If the offender later shows that he sees the folly of his ways and settles down, the practice is to remit a substantial portion of the added penalty.” Work for Prisoners The report states that experience has shown that nowhere more than In prison did mischief follow in the wake of Idleness. Consequently, It has always been regarded as Important to plan to keep prisoners fully occupied and preferably usefully occupied, for work that was of economic worth, besides helping to keep down the cost of administration, was not so soul-destroying as the drudgery of task labour. “In New Zealand we are fortunate In having an extra-mural programme of work on the prison farms to which any surplus prisoners could be readily drafted. This work provides opportunities for training the inmates in a healthful avocation so that If they chose to follow land they could eain an honest livelihood on release Even if thev did not so desire, temporary occupation in the open air builds them up physically and there Is no doubt that health and moral outlook are closely related.”