CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 46

CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND

REPORT OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT. WELLINGTON, August 21. The annual report of the prisons department states that there has been a slight decrease in the prison population compared with the daily average for the previous 12 months. Owing to tho depletion of staffs consequent on war conditions tho position has become so acute that no further eligible men can be spared from the ranks if the efficiency of tlie department's control and management is to be maintained. In compliance with the Minister's instructions, regulations have been drafted providing for an improved classification for tho removal of anomalies in connection with the treatment of remand and trial prisoners, debtors, first class misdemeanants, and prisoners sentenced to imprisonment without hard labour, for a differentiation between the treatment of first offenders and thoso who have served previous sentences, and for the management and government of a borstal institution. An improvement in tho general conditions, tending to humanise somo of the older prison methods, has already been made as personally directed by the Minister after his initial visit to the prisons of the dominion.

The daily average number of prisoners in New Zealand for the year was 943—a reduction of only 55, or about 6.4 per cent. The English returns show that the prison population decreased by nearly 57 per cent, between 1913-14 and 1915-16, but in New Zealand the figures for 1916 are in excess of those for 1913, the daily average for the earlier date being 893. During the first six months of 1917 there was a slight reduction in the New Zealand daily average compared with 1916. but even now the figures merely approximate to those of 1912. "Unfortunately," says the report, " 1915 was a record year in the history of the New Zealand prisons, and in spite of the fact that a number of ex-prisoners are known to have enlisted, it does not appear as if our criminal population is likely to be reduced to a figure appreciably below that reached during the pre-war period. When the war is over it is to be feared that we shall have the customary experience after the cessation of all wars—a large increase in the number of persons committed to our prisons.' The reasons given for the fall in the English prison population do not, the report considers, operate in New Zealand except for the enlistment of many habitual petty offenders. . . , . The report states that the original intention of the provision for the payment of a small weekly wage to prisoners in the classes named was that the bulk of the money should be used to assist in the support of wives and children. In practice it has been found that the prisoners only avail themselves of this privilege to a very limited extent. , Sixty-throe persons sentenced have been subsequently reconvicted or have broken the term of their probation, and have been returned to prison, and 13 have absconded. Thirteen have joined the ExpeditionaryForce (one of whom has since returned and been re-convicted), 13 have left tha dominion for countries or States to which they belonged or have resumed their occupations as sailors, firemen, etc., three have died, and one has been committed to a mental hospital, while 34 habituals are still reporting to the probation officers in different parts of the dominion Out of 140 men released or discharged by the Prisons Board 63 may be said to have failed to make good, while the position with regard to the 13 w'ho absconded is uncertain. The report states that from the reports of the individual probation officers it is evident that there should be a linking up between the first offender probation system and the work that is now being instituted by the Minister in his capacity as Minister of Education in regard to the more juvenile members of tho community who come more immediately under the jurisdiction of the officers of * the Education Department. It is hoped that with adequate co-operation between the officers of both departments satisfactory results will accrue.