RELEASED PRISONERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 76

RELEASED PRISONERS.

REMARKABLE RECLAMATION. STATISTICAL REVELATIONS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 16. It is clear that there are two sides to the controversy that has arisen in Melbourne following the release of so many prisoners by the Victorian Labour Government. Apparently the controversy was started with the idea of making political capital out of the facts that were presented, because an examination of the statistics has revealed that the releases were almost as numerous when the Nationalist Government was in power. But the statistics that have been quoted do more than this. They prove the possibility ■ of reclaiming a number of criminals. Is it not possible to carry the principles of British justice a little further, it has been*'asked, if by remitting portion of the sentences of 163 convicted persons under rigid safeguards, if 155 of them can be reclaimed to good and useful citizenship? Only a few days ago the council of the Australian Women’s National League, a greaty ally of the National Federation, adopted a resolution “ protesting vigorously against such a reprehensible practice (or remitting sentences) as a flagrant interference with the course of justice and an open encouragement to crime, and a standing menace to the preservation of law and order in the community.”: However, it had already been proved in Parliament that the present Government was merely following the precedent that had been set by earlier Governments during the last half • century. The “ menace ” to which the Women’s Council has taken exception in its political blindness, is exposed in the following statistics of the ultimate result of remissions:—

■ The “ not known ” prisoners were those who served sentences not exceeding six months and whose names are not included “in the goal registers. Of the 162 persons who have been released, only seven have been reconvicted, a fact which an experienced criminologist in Melbourne has described as “ truly marvellous.” Buj, it is the condition under which these men were released that is impressive.” Sentences were remitted for the observation of sobriety, good conduct, leaving the country and reputable bonds people making themselves responsible for a man’s good Behaviour for a longer period than the original sentence .• would have exacted.

Prisoners conNot recon- • ■■ Not Year. released, victed. victed. known. 1925 .. 51 4 38 9 1926 . . 35 2 26 7 1927 .. ,53 1 37 15 1928 . .. 23 — 16 7