PRISONS DEPARTMENT. PRISONS BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR 1922.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1923 Session I-II, H-20a

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Session 11. 1928. NEW ZEALAND.

PRISONS DEPARTMENT. PRISONS BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR 1922.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Mbmbees on' Board. Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout, P. 0., K.C.M.G. (President); Sir Gbokgh Eenwick, Kt. ; Edwin Hall, Esq. ; Erank Hay, Esq., M.B. ; C. B. Jordan, Esq. ; Charles E. Matthews, Esq. ; William Recce, Esq.

Sir — Wellington, 31st July, 1923. T have the honour to forward herewith the report of the Prisons Board for the year 1922. I have, &c, Robert Stout, President. The Hon. the Minister of Justice.

REPORT OP THE PRISONS BOARD POR THE YIOAR ENDINU 31 ST DECEMBER, 1922. The Board has to report that during the year 1922 it dealt with a total of 1,007 cases at meetings held at Wellington, Invercargill, Paparua, Addington, Christchuroh, Wi Tako, Point Halswell, Waikune Hautu, Auckland, and Waikeria. The following table sets out, under their respective statutory headings, the number of cases considered at each meeting, together with the decisions reached :

Session II. 1928. NEW ZEALAND. PRISONS DEPARTMENT. PRISONS BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF) POR 1922. Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. Members of Board. Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout, P.O., K.C.M.G. (President); Sir George Fenwick, Kt. ; Edwin Hall, Esq. ; Frank Hay, Esq., M.B. ; C. B. Jordan, Esq. ; Charles E. Matthews, Esq. ; William Reece, Esq. Sir,— Wellington, 31st July, 1923. I have the honour to forward herewith the report of the Prisons Board for the year 1922. I have, &c, Robert Stout, President. The Hon. the Minister of Justice. REPORT OF THE PRISONS BOARD For the Yuar ending 31st December, 1922. The Board has to report that during the year 1922 it dealt with a total of 1,007 cases at meetino-s held at Wollington, Invercargill, Paparua, Addington, Christchurch, Wi Tako, Point Halswell, Waikune Hautu, Auckland, and Waikeria. The following table sets out, under their respective statutory headings, tho number of cases considered at each meeting, together witli the decisions reached : Table A. Cases considered of Decisions showing how Cases were disposed of. Ca ises eon: 3 |. |S g Probationers for S° 3 1 fi§. iS. »I »?_ | Place |g §> 0 Dlaoharge from w -h B 1 -«JS £ ,„ £? S c ° & of 1-S JJ B Probation. Jj a £ « * SjS g o o^ 2 Meeting. J] || I |° % J 1 |M S Si S |f 1s7 •> M I® ill ■!_ Crimes Oflcndor „• 11 g g g p g| *2,Z _H|I , _|«S . it 111 ts Amend - Proba - I HI s I I s.l-g g*I g'g£ lis? -3 S II »«- SS mentAot. tioners. I J«j3 -g i_ Sq££ g g 1 B I a O 1 -2 ll Sr_ ■2 a _g rf bo i C 9 fa SS a a . ill SrH-2 Oh CM H 1 o Ph hi O ri __! • , H ll * m H eg 1 EH HA O H Feb. Mar. April June Feb. , Wollington .... 2 .. .. 2 2 2 Mar. Invercargill 1 140 8 .. .. 149 40 101 .'! 5 .. .. 149 Paparua 5 37 22 .. .. 64 26 31 3 4 .. '.'. ,'. 64 Addington .. 6 1 I .. 8 4 3 .. . . .. I 8 Christchurch 5 30 26 4 9 74 34 18 3 8 8 1 2 74 April Wellington .. 7 10 1 2 20 5 2 2 6 2 3 20 WiTako ..8 8 .. 16 4 8 .. 4 16 Pt. Halswell .. 13 1 .. .. 14 7 6 1 14 June Wellington 11 71 62 5 10 159 36 83 6 20 9 .. 5 159 Aug. Wollington 12 79 47 3 7 148 29 77 17 22 2 .. 1 148 Oct. Wellington 4 49 37 5 2 97 19 57 8 12 .. .. 1 97 Waikune 2 17 7 .. .. 26 12 13 .. .. .. .. 1 26 Hautu 1 7 4 .. .. 12 5 5 .. 2 .. .. 12 Auckland 52 61 25 .. .. 138 48 56 16 13 '.'. .. ' 8 138 Nov. Waikeria .. 67 10 .. .. 77 18 46 2 11 77 Dec. Wellington .. 2 1 .. .. 3 2 .. . . 1 .. .. .. 3 Wollington Invercargill Paparua Addington Christchurch Wellington Wi Tako Pt. Halswell Wellington Wollington Wellington Waikune Hautu Auckland Waikeria Wellington 1 8 i 5 11 12 4 2 1 52 140 37 6 30 7 8 13 71 79 49 17 7 61 67 2 2 8 22 I 26 10 8 I 62 47 37 7 4 25 10 1 1 4 1 5 3 5 9 2 10 7 2 2 149 64 8 74 20 16 14 159 148 97 26 12 138 77 3 101 31 3 18 2 8 6 83 77 57 13 5 56 46 5 4 8 6 4 20 22 12 8 2 9 2 2 3 2 149 64 8 74 20 16 14 159 148 97 26 12 138 77 3 Aug. Oct. 5 1 1 1 2 13 11 1 5 k>v. >ec. 93 594 271 19 30 1,007 291 500 61 108 21 2 18 1 007 93 594 271 19 30 1,007 500 1,007 108 21 2 18

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GENERAL RESULTS OF PRISONS BOARD'S WORK FROM 1911 TO 1922. Table B. —Reformative-detention Cases. Total number sentenced to reformative detention.. .. .. .. .. .. 2,026 Released on recommendation of Board .. .. . . . . 1,394 Discharged from reformatories on completion of full sentence .. . . .. 225 Total number released .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 1,619 Of whom there were— Returned to reformatories for non-compliance with conditions of release .. 73 Committed to reformatories for further offences whilst on probation .. 95 Sentenced for offences committed after discharge or expiry of period of probation 153 Total number returned and recommitted .. . . .. .. 321 Absconded and not traced .. . . .. .. . . .. 25 Died .. .. .. . . .. . . .. . . 7 Left Dominion to return to former domiciles . . . . . . . . 35 Known to have been killed in action while on active service .. .. 3 Returned to Weraroa .. .. .. . . . . . . 1 Transferred to Rotoroa Inebriates Institution .. .. .. .. 1 Transferred to mental hospitals .. .. .. .. . . 3 Transferred to Mount Magdala Home .. . . .. .. . . 1 Transferred to Salvation Army Home .. .. .. . . .. 1 Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1922 .. .. .. .. 113 Number who have not offended since their discharge or expiration of period of probation, and presumably doing well .. .. .. 1,108 1,298 1,619 Of the total number released after undergoing reformative detention 19-9 per cent, have been returned to prison either for non-compliance with conditions of release or for committing further offences ; 3-7 per cent, have left the Dominion or absconded ; 1 per cent, have died or been transferred to mental hospitals, &c. ; leaving 75-4 per cent, who have not further offended. Table C sets out the habitual criminals dealt with during the same period as that covered by Table B. Table C. —Habitual Criminals. Total number declared habitual criminals .. .. .. .. .. .... 339 Of whom there were released on recommendation of Board .. .. .... 283 Of whom there were — Returned to prison for non-compliance with conditions of release .. .. 12 Committed to prison for further offences .. .. .. .. 84 Sentenced for offences committed after their discharge from prison or from probation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Total number returned .. .. .. .. .... 142 Absconded and not traced .. .. .. .. .. 23 Died .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..9 Left Dominion to return to former domiciles .. .. .. ..38 Transferred to mental hospital .. . . . . .. .. .. 1 Transferred to consumptive sanatorium .. . . . . . . .. 1 Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1922 . . .. .. 39 Number who have not offended, as far as known, since their discharge from probation and presumably doing well .. .. .. 30 — 141 283 Of the -total number of habitual criminals released on probation 50 per cent, were returned to prison either for non-compliance with the conditions of probation or for committing further offences ; 21-6 per cent, have left the Dominion or absconded ; 3-9 per cent, have died or been transferred to mental hospitals, &c. ; leaving 24-5 per cent, who have not further offended. Since 1917 the Board has dealt with the following hard-labour cases : — Table D. —Hard-labour Cases. Total individual cases considered .. .. .. .. .. 590 Number discharged from prison on recommendation of Board .. . . 85 Number released on probation on recommendation of Board .. .. 160 Left the Dominion .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Recommitted for other offences .. .. . . .. . . 3 Completed probation .. .. .. .. .. .. 94 Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1922 .. .. .. 35

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Offenders Probation Act, 1920. Under section 12 of the Offenders Probation Act, 1920, provision is made enabling any person released under that Act to apply to the Prisons Board for discharge from probation after completion of half the period to which offender was sentenced. During the year thirty requests of this nature were received, and after careful consideration of the facts in each case the Board agreed to the discharge of twenty-one of the applicants.

Table E. —Showing Releases and Discharges, etc., effected each Month.

GENERAL SUMMARY. The following table shows the cases considered year by year by the Board since its inception : —

Table F.

The above table indicates very clearly the growth of the Board's work since it was first established in 1911. In 1912, the first full year of operation, 418 cases were dealt with, while for the year under review (1922) 1,007 prisoners and probationers of all classes came before the Board. This large increase is partly accounted for by the fact that since the year 1917 all hard-labour prisoners have been placed under the Board's jurisdiction, while in 1921 the duties of the Board were further added to by the power given it in that year to grant discharges from probation to persons released under the Offenders Probation Act. The total cases dealt with under these two headings alone numbered 301 during the past year. The further increase that has taken place is to some extent due to the growth

Releasei d on Pn ibation. I )ischarges f roj Prison. Disci jirges from Probation. 1922. 3 o 'p « a 111 w 18 43 ■£ d ,« a | s o p I ■gPo Ph P 5 -'1 So IS CO a d .£ o If . af $ a bl 3 O £> . i, 3 go a a H 9B 5 3 a £ d I o d I •&.g a o st I I « ! S3 £ « - .2 a s s •§ s ■ i •soo & a M O B Total. J anuary February March April May June July August September October November December 4 7 7 4 10 6 6 6 1 2 5 3 1 1 24 9 30 18 25 13 13 11 10 5 27 5 7 2 (i 4 5 5 8 4 7 3 8 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 1 i 1 1 7 1 1 II 26 60 29 42 35 38 26 19 13 74 12 1 4 2 2 1 10 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 12 2 14 1 3 3 6 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 Totals 22 65 29 190 60 24* 10 415 * lnclui los one lisohargi from mi >ntal hoi ipital.

Year. Probationers for Discharge from Probation. Totals. Habitual Criminals and Offenders. Reformative Detention. Hard Labour. Crimes Offender Amend- Probament Act. tioners. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 1915 .. 1916 .. 1917 .. 1918 .. 1919 .. 1920 .. 1921 .. 1922 .. 65 159 157 117 101 102 95 87 97 74 75 93 105 259 403 332 273 322 329 201 471 467 564 594 14 92 115 75 167 271 • 170 418 560 449 374 424 438 380 701 648 841 1,007 18 32 18 19 17 30 Totals 1,222 4,320 734 87 17 6,410

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of the Dominion's population, and also to the addition to the criminal population that has taken place as a result of the general depression following the war period. The beneficial effect of the provisions of the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910, which first authorized the reformative-detention sentence and established the probationary system for prisoners, is amply demonstrated by the fact that during the whole period from 1911 to 1922 the returns show that out of nearly 1,400 prisoners serving sentences of reformative detention who have been placed on probation on the recommendation of the Prisons Board apjiroximatcly 75 per cent, have " made good." The habitual criminals who have been granted probation under the same Act are, of course, of a different class ; but even with this class of hardened criminal—all of whom have had many terms of imprisonment, sometimes extending over half a lifetime —the probation system has resulted in the rehabilitation of approximately 25 per cent, of those who have been released. Without the chance that the system gives them, by far the larger proportion of those who have now become useful and self-respecting members of the community would have continued their criminal careers until death claimed, them. During the year the Board visited all the prisons and prison institutions in the Dominion, and has to express its satisfaction at the continued progress made by the Department in advancing its various undertakings and in improving from year to year the facilities that arc provided under its enlightened system for the rehabilitation of the prisoners under its charge. Among other places visited, was the Hautu land-development camp near Lake Taupo, where the members of the Board found every reason to feel pleased with the energy, displayed by the officers of the Department in pressing forward the various branches of work involved in clearing, breaking in, and laying down in grass the entrance block to the large area of country that has been allotted to the Department by the Government for opening up for future settlement. In terms of the Offenders Probation Act, 1920, thirty probationers petitioned the Board, compared with seventeen the previous year—ample proof that the provision relating to discharge from probation is being more widely availed of. Of the thirty applicants, twenty-one were granted discharge, whilst the balance were refused. The attention of the Government is again directed to the resolution embodied in the Board reports for the last two years. It was as follows : — " Whereas an increasing number of sexual offences has been the subject of frequent and serious judicial comment, especially in cases where young children were the victims, or the very serious nature of the charge connoted a perversion dangerous to the moral well-being of society ; and, as the experience of the Board in dealing with prisoners of this class accords, as far as it goes, with the now generally accepted opinion that, with certain exceptions, persons committing unnatural offences labour under physical disease or disability, or mental deficiency or disorder, or both, which accounts for the sexual perversion and the morbid character of the offence charged : It is resolved by the Prisons Board to strongly recommend to the Government an amendment of the Crimes Act under which such offenders could be dealt with scientifically — "(1.) Before sentence is pronounced, by furnishing expert medical, or sugical reports or evidence : " (2.) By sanctioning an indeterminate sentence : " (3.) By segregating persons so sentenced and subjecting them, under proper safeguards, to any medical or surgical treatment which may be deemed necessary or expedient either for their own good or in the public interest." It is a matter of grave concern that this state of affairs should be longer allowed to continue, as statistics show that offences, under this heading are yearly increasing. Exclusive of incest casts, there were forty-six offenders sentenced in 1920 on charges of carnal knowledge, indecent assault, &c, sixty-one in 1921, and sixty-nine in 1922. Robert Stout, President. Wellington, 31st July, 1923.

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