Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. MONDAY, OCTOBER 11,1886. The First Offenders Probation Act.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1895, 11 October 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. MONDAY, OCTOBER 11,1886. The First Offenders Probation Act.

A short sketch of this Act, which was passed last session, will enable oar readers to understand why it has been passed, Every probation officer is required—“ (1) To enquire into the character and offence of every person arrested for any first offence lor the purpose of ascertaining whether the accused may reasonably be expected to reform without punishment. (2) To keep a full record of the results of his investigation. (3) If satisfied upon the investigation that the best interests of the public and the offender would be subserved by placing him upon probation, to recommend the same to the court trying the case.” The Act provides “ That police officers or other persons ” may be appointed as probation officers at the discretion of the Government, bnt it is thought undesirable to impose the duties upon the police where this can be avoided, as in the first place the police are not under the Justice Department, which might complicate the administration of the Act. becondly, the police are not unnaturally supposed rather to press for convictions than to arrest first and then to advise a prisoner’s release even under surveillance. On the other hand it was not deemed advisable to create a new paid department, so it has been decided that in all cities or towns where there is a head gaoler he shall be appointed probation officer for the locality, To divest the matter as far as possible of the prison character places outside the gaol will be fixed as the places where probationers must periodically report themselves, and where there is no regular gaoler, as in smaller towns, the Head Constable of the locality will be appointed probation officer, bnt in those cases it is thought improbable that in the ordinary course of events there will be many cases calling for operation of the new Act.