PENAL REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1934, Page 4

PENAL REFORM.

The report of such an organisation as the Prisons Board is always of interest to social reformers. The review of the past year’s work of the board that was submitted to Parliament this week confirms the opinion that more humane methods of dealing with convicted persons will prove more effective than the old one that made imprisonment punitive and nothing else. The Prisons Board is a body of experts. Its work is done in private to a large extent, and the humanity with which it has to deal is often very disappointing and depressing. Yet the board is able to report that 74 per cent, of the prisoners released on license have avoided re-conviction, and there is every reason for believing that many of them are on the way to recovery of their former rights to full citizenship. Even among thej most troublesome class of delinquent, the habitual criminal, a fair proportion of those released on license has made good. The board is by no means indiscriminate in its use of its powers. Only about onethird of .the 1639 cases under review were recommended for probation, and the careful selection made is reflected in the low percentage of those who slipped back into criminal ways. The probation system for first offenders continues to prove successful. Only a small percentage of probationers failed to make good. The cost to the Dominion is far less than for incarceration, and the self-respect of the convicted persons has been preserved. The success of the probation system depends largely upon the supervisory officials. If they exercise the right influence and control the disciplinary effect of probation is well maintained; if on the other hand supervision is weak, probationers are inclined to regard the leniency extended to them as equivalent to an acquittal. Fortunately the tendency to appoint only trained probation officers is growing, and with its extension may be seen the- better results obtained. The work of the Prisons Board is unobtrusive, but its contribution towards social reform is of more importance than can be calculated in terms of money alone.