JUDGES AS MORAL DOCTORS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16869, 26 October 1925, Page 7

JUDGES AS MORAL DOCTORS.

VISION OF 1960

OXFORD, Sept, 10.—Prison will have no terrors for the wrongdoer of 1950. Bill Sykes will plead “misdirection of the acquisitive sense,” and, instead of being sentenced to two years' hard labor for robbery with violence, will be remanded for a course of psycho-analysis. He will retire to beautiful surroundings, where everything will be done to soften his coarse and brutal nature. Finally lie will return to ITox ton an influence for good and a noble character. This forecast is inspired by the address on the psychology of criminals which Dr. Hambiin Smith delivered to women magistrates assembled at the summer school held at St. Hilda’s Hall to-day. “DELINQUENCIES.” Dr. Smith argued that “delinquencies”—a term he employs in preference to crime—aro the result, of repressed experiences suffered in youth. “In actual practice 1 have during the last six years examined 600 criminals, finding it necessary to recommend no more thou 138 of them for prison, “Of tile 462 whom I have cured by psychological study, only 2 per cent, came within reach of the law again. “Psycho-analysis teaches . where punishment fails. It brings about reformation ft’Om some impulse within the criminal himself.” A vista of psycho-analysis hospitals throughout tho length and breadth of Great Britain is opened up by Dr. Smith’s suggestion that the criminal of the future will be treated as a sick man on the advice of a trained psychologist, who will advise the magistrates.