PRISON REFORM.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14265, 3 August 1910, Page 6

PRISON REFORM.

A PROGRESSIVE SCHEME. The Hon. Dr Kindlay's prison reform scheme will extend power to .Judys to impose, indeterminate sentences, it is proposed to have every indet; nuinate sentence por.odically reviow-.-d by a competent tribunal, which may orU.r a prisoner's release if he is mi'ionjier a menace to si.ciety. Tin: primary object is to do away with the purely piiuit.i-e idea, replacing it by more scicntdie and humane methods, which have, whereve| adopted, iesult:d in a marked decrease in the average recidivism. When an indeterminate sentence is applied the release of the prisoner w.il depend on himself. '.The following institutions are necessary to provide proper ciassiicaiioii and opportunities for reform :

Penitentiaries lor male prisoners. An institution ior sexual perverts and criminals of unsound mind. A. v. institution for incorrigible drunkards. Prison camps. Reformatory farm. Penitentiary and reformaiorv for women. . AYherever possible the existing buildings ol the Prison Department will be utilised, hut the Dunedin and Napier Gaols are. so unsuitable that they will be closed.

Male, criminals nil] l u , cassifkd into seven and women intt» four divisions. Prison camps will be utilised for more purposes than tree-planting. The camps will bo located in positions snitaole lor eavryn..- out quarrying, element 111,-mulacture, bn'ck-inaking.' ' swarapdrim, ng. and other public wVirks. Kverv anlo-bodied man wiJI tlnis be able to utilise his prison hou-s to n C od advantage in learn;!,;; something which can be turned to account honestlv outside. One of the most important of the ■new institutions is the prison farm situated, at Tokanui. near Tekuiti Next summer gangs of prisoners „-j|| i„, ~„,_ ployed there m road-making and building. rrainiuK in all branches of farming including sheep-farming, dairviiur and cropping, will he given " "' The probation system i s 'to he remodelled and largely extended, the treatment of drunkards will be comaud other innovations