Prisoners' Probation Bill.

Southland Times, Issue 8091, 20 August 1885, Page 2

Prisoners' Probation Bill.

£By Telegraph.]

(FROM OtJB OWN COBRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, Aug. 19. Tbe bill introduced inti the House yostor day by Mr Tole, entitled the Prisoners' Probation Bill, is a measure to permit the conditional release of first offenders for probation of good conduct. It is not intended that the bill shall be pressed forward tbia sessioD, but it will be printed and distributed for consideration of members during the recess. lam indebted to the Minister of Justice for an advance c ->py of the bill, from which I make the following summary: — The preamble sets forth that it would be conducive to the public good if first offenders were, in cer- > tain cases, permitted to be at large on pro-'' bation without saifering, punishment, and the bill provides that the Governor may make regulations for any purpose incidental to the administration of this Act, and may appoint probation officers and assign their districts, These officers are to have the powers of police officers, and their duty is/ to be (1)< to enquire , s carefully into the character and :; offence o£ enery person arrestedfor any oiFenop for the purpose of tw*

reasonably be expected to reform without . p.UDi.hhrnont ; (2) to attend the sittings of aU Courts in his district where first offences are to bo tried ; (3) to recommend to tue Caurt the placing on probation of first ; offenders ; and (4) to keep a -fallirjbcord of the result of his investigation. If the officer thinks that the best interests of the public and the offender would be - subserved [y b^placing > an^offender probation, it is to be his special duty to i recomuiend it.to the Court, and the Court, having record ed the 1 co'nviotionj may permit the. offender to be placed upon pro- 1 ''Batio"n^apion such terms'^as it w may deeni 1 beat having regard to hiß refoimation, and may order him to appear before the Coart at some future time as it shall think fit, . The terms of the release ate to bfti urnishecl in writing to the offender, ■ and it may be a condition of. the release that the i offender shall pay the costs of pfoaectt.- . tion. Upon the satisfactdrj fulfilment of ■ all conditions of his release the- person on probation, at the expiration of the term, . shall be deemedrto be finally discharged as if he had served biVsentence.C Any probationer may be fe-arrested by the pro- ; bation officer without farther; warranty '*- and the Court may either commit Him to . prison for the term of his original sentence, or again release bim on probation for such farther term as it thinks fit. The probation officer is to furnish to the Minister of Justice a monthly return of persons on probation. This bill is not based upon any English statute, and w entirely original in its construction.- The Minister of Justice believes that if it is carried it will have very beneficial effects,