THE PROBATION SYSTEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3867, 24 April 1928, Page 24

THE PROBATION SYSTEM.

SUCCESS IN NEW ZEALAND.

REVIEW BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE.

At a meeting of the Dunedin Voluntary Probation Committee, held in the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday evening, Mr F. J. Rolleston, Minister of Justice, dealt with the success of the probation system as it had been applied recently in New Zealand, and conveyed the thanks of the Government to the men who were interesting themselves in the work. Mr J. R- Bartholomew, S.M., presided, and the Minister was accompanied by Mr B. L. Dallard, Chief Probation Officer. “ I can assure you that in your efforts for the redemption of members of the community who have deviated from the paths of rectitude you have the profound appreciation of the Government,” said Mr Rolleston. ” The work of restoring erring ones to a sense of citizenship and usefulness is a public service, and is patriotism of a high order.” The Minister continued that the probation system was not a scheme of recent origin—it was well past the experimental stage. He understood that in England a form of probation was first established in 1820, and in America in 1870, but it was since the passing of the Offenders Probation Act, 1914. that the system of utilising voluntary probation workers had been widely extended in Great Britain, and, according to reports, with pronounced success. There w’as now, amongst author ities, a recognition that through the agency of selected voluntary workers organised by a few salaried officers the most effective results could be attained The establishment of voluntary probation committees was a comparatively recent development in New Zealand, but the response to the appeals made for helpers had been most gratifying and encouraging The department had now established voluntary committees under the chairmanship of the local Magistrates in the four centres and in all the main secondarv towns There were 140 voluntary workers attached to committees in various parts of the Dominion dealing with male probationers, and in addition there were some 30 ladies giving voluntary service in finding employment and maintaining oversight of women offenders and girls released on parole from the Borstal institutions.

Probation was not claimed to be a panacea for all social ills, but it had proved to be a really effective means«of dealing with certain classes of offenders, particularly where the offences had been due to circumstances rather than character. Statistics showed that only about 12 per cent, failed to respond to this form of treatment, and, when the saving of the stigma of imprisonment was considered, the ill influences of penal establishments, the possibility foi individual oversight and care of the offender, the saving to the State, and the provision for restitution to the victim—these were factors that weighed heavily in favour of probation. The total amount col lected by way of probation since the inception of the scheme to March 31 last amounted to £37,261. The number of persons dealt with under the Offenders Probation Act during the same period was 8287, 741 being admitted last year, and when it was borne in mind that the cost to the State of a person was estimated at 5 per cent, of the cost of imprisonment the saving had been consider able.

Of course probation was not appropriate to every form of offence. The more generous impulses of the law were not intended for, and should not be applied to, offences which usually involved qualities of brutality and deliberation. It could be said that the success of the probation scheme depended even more on the discrimination exercised by the court in the granting of its provision than in the organisation of a scheme of after care and supervision. For instance, it was rare that offences involving impaired mentality of a fairly pronounced nature could be dealt with successfully througn probation. Such offenders were too irresponsible to respond to the socialising efforts of voluntary probation workers In this connection he was hopeful that it would be possible to bring into effect some of the recommendations embodied in Dr Gray’s recent report, thus making provision for more consideration to be given to such factors.