PRISONS DEPARTMENT. PRISONS BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR 1923.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1924 Session I, H-20a

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1924. NEW ZEALAND.

PRISONS DEPARTMENT. PRISONS BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR 1923.

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

Members of Board. Right Hon. Sir Robert Stodt, P.C., 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. ; Willtam Reeoe, Esq. Sir— Wellington, 31st July, 1924. I have the honour to forward herewith the report of the Prisons Board for the year 1923. I have, &c, • Robert Stout, President. The Hon. the Minister of Justice..

REPORT OF THE PRISONS BOARD. For the Year ending 31st December, 1923. The Board has to report that during the year 1923 it dealt with a total of 1,093 cases at meetings held at Wellington, Invercargill, Paparua, Addington, Christehureh, 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 :—

li. 1924. NEW ZEALAND. PRISONS DEPARTMENT, PRISONS BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR 1923. Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. Members of Board. Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout, P.C., 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, 1924. I have the honour to forward herewith the report of the Prisons Board for the year 1923. I have, &c, • Robert Stout, President. The Hon. the Minister of Justice. REPORT OF THE PRISONS BOARD. For the Year ending 31 st December, 1923. The Board has to report that during the year 1923 it dealt with a total of 1,093 cases at meetings held at Wellington, Invercargill, Paparua, Addington, Christchurch, 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 : — Cases considered of Decisions showing how Cases wore disposed of. §" 1 i& E i 1°* Probationers for S2 . _ -2 § i io» «S fi'S I _ Place I S _ la° Discharge from „ fi b 3 _«l i™- 5 H« n o fl S' I ° f 1 I_ B O i_« Probation. |e £ |1_.^25S H §2°_ ■ Meeting. 5 |f J SU _ |° _ 5 | gSJ j. »| § gf tt-3 , | 1 |1I h l_|l|| Crime! Offender , If J J J III] „|f ||| 11 _J J | 1 111 IS ]m«m1._-___: 552S. I li! I | llll Hi s|. fcl 1 __ res c. 1 IB O onsidered of -30 M * a a Probationers for a § _ Discharge from §__ Probation. —• a s a£„g Crimes Offender _ m rt a Amend- Proba«_Hc» merit Act. tioners. H Dei Is Ph m aia' ill 85-s rS _ iclsions showln -a -d h I "Sj _, _l t3 _) ' m S ' a ■2 .2 r-l |S ng how Cases wei •2 | | oo«; Ch -h hi, — -H,_ Q. g p?o a ►.»'§ Oh O ere disposed of. T3 M M _ rn , »a s°3 i «g a oS H ,2 I-. ill i="S g as-g a--_ g | °lfi gs__ 1 _(-»_ o I _ P w CO 1 ± Jan. Paparua .. 1 54 21 .... .. .. 76 28 36 5 7 I .. 1 Addington 1 4 4.... .. .. 9 2 5 2 I.. Christchurch 3 13 27 .... 3 5 51 16 15 10 6 3 .. ... 1 I Invercargill 2 165 9 .. .. .. .. 176 34 126 4 12 April ; Wellington 9 99 56 .. .. 5 7 176 44 89 14 24 4 .... I 1 May Pt. Halswell .. 16 .. .. 16 3 11 .. 2 Wellington 1 13 8 .. .. 1 .-. 23 5 12 6 I WiTako .. 18 7 .. 25 13 10 1 1 .. . ! July I Wellington 3 35 34 .. .. 1 1 74 20 31 2 20 1 .. Sept. j 6 70 54 .. 3 4 7 144 42 64 1 28 6 .. 3 .. Nov. i Waikune .. 3 27 14 .... .. .. 44 9 30 .. 5 .". | Hautu .. .. 13 6 .. .. .. .. 19 5 12 2 | i Auckland 40 52 35 .. 1 .. .. 128 34 83 4 6 .. .. 1 I 4 33 22 1 2 4 66 16 40 6 4 .. ., j .. Waikeria .. .. 59 7 .. .. .. .. 66 21 42 .. 3 3 5 1 5 7 76 9 51 176 176 16 23 25 74 144 44 19 128 66 66 28 2 16 34 44 3 5 13 20 42 9 5 34 16 21 36 5 5 2 15 10 126 4 89 14 11 12 10 1 31 2 64 1 30 12 2 83 4 40 42 7 6 3 12 24 4 2 6 I 20 1 28 6 5 ' .. I i" .. ! i 76 9 51 176 176 16 23 25 74 144 44 19 128 66 66 3 1 4 1 7 .. "3 j '.'. 1 1 6 6 4 3 ■ .. 1 .. 1 I .. 2 4 73 671 304 14 16 24 1,093 292 606 45 126 18 4 2 671 304 it. 24 1,093 292 606 45 126 18 is 4 2 1,093 ._r _.._. _._-_. * _. *_. «_„ *,_-..._. _,_-« _._M> __, __.U JLU .. _ £

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STATISTICS. Table A. —Reformative-detention Cases. Total number sentenced to reformative detention ...... .. .. .. 2,321 Released on recommendation of Board .. .. .. ' .. .. .. 1,629 Discharged from reformatories on completion of full sentence .. .. .. 266 Total number released . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,895 Of whom there were — Returned to reformatories for non-compliance with, conditions of release .. 76 Committed to reformatories for further offences whilst on probation.. .. ] 26 Sentenced for offences committed after discharge or expiry of period of probation 194 Total number returned and recommitted j. ,). I .. .. 396 Absconded and not traced . . .. .. . . .. .. 26 Died .. .. .. .. .. .. f ..-j ... 7 Left Dominion to return to former domiciles .. .. I •_ 1 .. 41 Known to have been killed in action while on active service .. .. 3 Returned to Weraroa.. .. .. .. ... .. .. 1 Transferred to Rotoroa Inebriates Institution .. .. .. .. I Transferred to mental hospitals .. .. .. .. .. 3 Transferred to Mount Magdala Home .. .. .. .. .. 1 Transferred to Salvation Army Home .. .. .. .. .. I Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1923 .. .. .. .'. 128 Number who have not offended since their discharge or expiration of period of probation, and presumably doing well .. .. .. .. 1,287 1,499 1,895 Of the total number released after undergoing reformative detention, 20-9 per cent, have been returned to prison either for non-compliance with conditions of release or for committing further offences ; 3-5 per cent, have left the Dominion or absconded ; 09 per cent, have died or been transferred to mental hospitals, &c. ; leaving 74-7 per cent, who have not further offended. Table B sets out the habitual criminals dealt with during the same period as that covered by Table A. , < Table 8.-—Habitual Criminals. Total number declared habitual criminals .. .. .. .. .. .... 371 Of whom there were released on recommendation of Board .. .. .... 313 Of whom there were — Returned to prison for non-compliance with conditions of release .. .. 43 Committed to prison for further offences .. .. .. .. .. 98 Sentenced for offences committed after their discharge from prison or from probation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..17 Total number returned .. .. .. .. .. — 158 Absconded and not traced .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Died .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..10 Left Dominion to return to former domiciles .. .. .. .. 40 Transferred to mental hospital .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Transferred to consumptive sanatorium .. .. .. .. .. 1 Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1923 .. .. .. .. 34 Number who have not offended, as far as known, since their discharge from probation and presumably doing well .. ;. .. .. 45 — 155 313 Of the total number of habitual criminals released on probation, 50-5 per cent, were returned to prison either for non-compliance with the conditions of probation or for committing further offences. No offences are recorded against the remaining 49-5 per cent., but our tables show that 3*B per cent, died or were transferred to mental hospitals, while 20-5 per cent, left the Dominion or absconded. This leaves a definite percentage of 25-2 who have remained in the Dominion and have not further offended. Critics of the system have commented adversely upon the fact that our figures regarding habitual criminals show an average of only 25 per cent, of successes. They apparently add the percentage of those who have left the Dominion to return to their country of origin to the percentage of those reconvicted, and assert that the failures amount to 75 per cent, of the total. There is no justification for such an assertion. It is probable, of course, that a proportion of the 20 per cent, referred to may offend again in other countries, but we know that many of them do not so offend, and that their change of environment has brought about their rehabilitation.

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Since 1917 the Board has dealt with the following hard-labour cases : — Table C. —Hard-labour Cases. Total individual cases considered .. .. .. .. .. 779 Number discharged from prison on recommendation of Board .. 147 Number released on probation on recommendation of Board .. .. 240 Left the Dominion . . .. .. .. . . .. 14 Absconded .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Recommitted for other offences .. .. .. .. 8 Completed probation .. .. . . .. .. .. 160 Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1923 .. .. .. ..32 Offenders Probation Act, 1920. During the year twenty-four applications for discharge from probation were considered by the Board, and of the number received eighteen were granted.

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

GENERAL SUMMARY. The following table shows the cases considered year by year by the Board over the last decade :■ —

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Since 1917 the Board has dealt with the following hard-labour cases : — Table C. —Hard-labour Cases. Total individual cases considered .. .. .. .. .. 779 Number discharged from prison on recommendation of Board .. .. 147 Number released on probation on recommendation of Board .. .. 240 Left the Dominion . . .. .. .. . . .. 14 Absconded .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Recommitted for other offences .. .. ... .. 8 Completed probation .. .. . . .. .. .. 160 Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1923 .. ,. .. ..32 Offenders Probation Act, 1920. During the year twenty-four applications for discharge from probation were considered by the Board, and of the number received eighteen" were granted. Table D.—Showing Releases and Discharges, etc., effected each Month. Released on Probation. Discharged from Prison. Discharged from Probation. p* U ®aS jirtlo 3 1923. | ,S |.| | .-a || o $| || Mi Total. *$ s-lsigss ili Hi ti Hi III 111 fl III 111 ii ill ill ii Sis i||ll|s, -g! W W i« H M p3 ' w w I« , o : Total. January ..8 7 13 9 1 3 1 1 4 1 48 February .. 15 4 21 3 .. 3 2 48 March ' .. 8 4 17 3 .. 6 .. 1 2 .. .. 41 April .. 7 .. 4 2 1 14 May.. ...10 4 21 2 1 5 2 .. 1 4 .. 50 June .. 6 1 18 7 .. 12 .. 1 45 July .. 2 1 14 3 .. 6 .. 1 .. 1 I 29 August .. 9 1 16 7 .. 2 35 September 11 5 .. 3 2 1 1 6 2 31 October .. 1 .. 10 10 .. 3 24 November .. 4 2 14 3 .. 4 .. 2 -.. 2 .. 31 December ..10 4 26 8 .. 3 1 .. 52 48 48 41 14 50 45 29 35 31 24 31 52 Totals .. 80 28 185 62 2 50 5 6 5 18 7 448 448 i l GENERAL SUMMARY. The following table shows the cases considered year by year by the Board over the last decade :■ — Table E. I , ll "' ' i PrnVia.finnpn'c fnr Probatio Discharj Proba iners for ge from ition. W M* .1 Habitual tr ° m Habitual t> t .■ ri ■ ■ i x Probation. , T n • • i j Reformative -a j t _ i. Criminals for „ . , Year. Criminals and t-. , .. Hard Labour. . . Totals. Offenders. Detentl0n - „TJ u' Crimes Offender Habitual Criminals for remission, Hard Labour. Totals. Year. Crimes Amendment Act. Offender Probationers. a " Amend- Probament Act. tioners ment act. tioners. 1914 .. 117 332 .. .. .. .. 449 1915 .. 101 273 .. .. .. .. 374 1916 .. 102 322 .. .. .. .. 424 1917 .. 95 329 14 .. .... 438 1918 .. 87 201 ■., 92 .. .. .. 380 1919 .. 97 471 115 .. 18 .. 701 1920 .. 74 467 75 .. 32 .. 648 1921 .. 75 564 167 .. 18 17 841 1922 .. 93 594 271 .. 19 30 1,007 1923 .. 74 671 304 4 16 24 1,093 1914 .. 1915 .. 1916 .. 1917 .. 1918 .. 1919 .. 1920 .. 1921 .. 1922 .. 1923 .. 18 32 18 19 16 449 374 424 438 380 701 648 841 J ,007 1,093 17 30 24 4 Totals 915 4,224 1,038 4 103 71 6,355 Totals 4 103 71 6,355 Owing to the growth of the Board's work, meetings have of necessity to be held more frequently than hitherto, and during the year, as will be observed, the Board sat on some fifteen occasions. Owin: than hithe have of necesf ie Board sat o sity to be m some fi: held mo 'teen occ; re frequently -sions.

Since 1917 the Board has dealt with the following hard-labour cases : — Table C.—Hard-labour Cases. Total individual cases considered .. .. .. .. .. 779 Number discharged from prison on recommendation of Board .. .. 147 Number released on probation on recommendation of Board .. .. 240 Left the Dominion . . .. .. .. . . .. 14 Absconded .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Recommitted for other offences .. .. ... .. 8 Completed probation .. .. . . .. .. .. 160 Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1923 .. ,. .. ..32 Offenders Probation Act, 1920. During the year twenty-four applications for discharge from probation were considered by the Board, and of the number received eighteen" were granted. Table D.—Showing Releases and Discharges, etc., effected each Month. Released on Probation. Discharged from Prison. Discharged from Probation. p* U ®aS jirtlo 3 1923. | ,S |.| | .-a || o $| || Mi Total. *$ s-lsigss ili Hi ti Hi III 111 fl III 111 ii ill ill ii Sis i||ll|s, -g! W W i« H M p3 ' w w I« , o : Total. January ..8 7 13 9 1 3 1 1 4 1 48 February .. 15 4 21 3 .. 3 2 48 March ' .. 8 4 17 3 .. 6 .. 1 2 .. .. 41 April .. 7 .. 4 2 1 14 May.. ...10 4 21 2 1 5 2 .. 1 4 .. 50 June .. 6 1 18 7 .. 12 .. 1 45 July .. 2 1 14 3 .. 6 .. 1 .. 1 I 29 August .. 9 1 16 7 .. 2 35 September 11 5 .. 3 2 1 1 6 2 31 October .. 1 .. 10 10 .. 3 24 November .. 4 2 14 3 .. 4 .. 2 -.. 2 .. 31 December ..10 4 26 8 .. 3 1 .. 52 48 48 41 14 50 45 29 35 31 24 31 52 Totals .. 80 28 185 62 2 50 5 6 5 18 7 448 448 i l GENERAL SUMMARY. The following table shows the cases considered year by year by the Board over the last decade :■ — Table E. I , ll "' ' i PrnVia.finnpn'c fnr Probatio Discharj Proba iners for ge from ition. W M* .1 Habitual tr ° m Habitual t> t .■ ri ■ ■ i x Probation. , T n • • i j Reformative -a j t _ i. Criminals for „ . , Year. Criminals and t-. , .. Hard Labour. . . Totals. Offenders. Detentl0n - „TJ u' Crimes Offender Habitual Criminals for remission, Hard Labour. Totals. Year. Crimes Amendment Act. Offender Probationers. a " Amend- Probament Act. tioners ment act. tioners. 1914 .. 117 332 .. .. .. .. 449 1915 .. 101 273 .. .. .. .. 374 1916 .. 102 322 .. .. .. .. 424 1917 .. 95 329 14 .. .... 438 1918 .. 87 201 ■., 92 .. .. .. 380 1919 .. 97 471 115 .. 18 .. 701 1920 .. 74 467 75 .. 32 .. 648 1921 .. 75 564 167 .. 18 17 841 1922 .. 93 594 271 .. 19 30 1,007 1923 .. 74 671 304 4 16 24 1,093 1914 .. 1915 .. 1916 .. 1917 .. 1918 .. 1919 .. 1920 .. 1921 .. 1922 .. 1923 .. 18 32 18 19 16 449 374 424 438 380 701 648 841 J ,007 1,093 17 30 24 4 Totals 915 4,224 1,038 4 103 71 6,355 Totals 4 103 71 6,355 Owing to the growth of the Board's work, meetings have of necessity to be held more frequently than hitherto, and during the year, as will be observed, the Board sat on some fifteen occasions. Owin: than hithe have of necesf ie Board sat o sity to be m some fi: held mo 'teen occ; re frequently -sions.

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Comparison of Tables A and B with those of former reports shows that the percentage of those who make good after release remains much the same from year to year. Approximately three out of four of those released after serving sentences of reformative detention give no further trouble, whilst the proportion is much less satisfactory in the case of habitual criminals. As the statutory term indicates, this class of offender has become fixed in its habits, and after a lifetime of crime it is not to be expected that any change in mental outlook can be effected by further imprisonment. The Board has endeavoured to give individual habituals a chance to continue in. outside life the records they have made for industry, good conduct, intelligent and valuable work while in prison ; but, while this policy has been fully justified by a reasonable percentage of successes—that is, of cases of definite and well-established rehabilitation—there remain a number of men who, although released more than once, have shown their utter inability to keep the laws of the country. No man has been released unless it is known by his record in prison that he is capable of sustained and arduous work. In face of such records the Board has felt that these men were deserving of consideration, and has accordingly tested them by recommending their release on probation. Some of them have made good, but experience has shown that others are definitely anti-social and are quite unfit to be at large. All those comprised in the latter category will now have to remain in prison indefinitely. They have had their chances, and have abused them all. An analysis of the number of habitual criminals released during the year shows that only eighteen were New-Zealand-born, whilst twenty-two were over the age of thirty-five years. From these figures it may be assumed that the number of habituals will diminish as the native-born population of the Dominion increases and the importation of criminals from overseas becomes less. The uplifting of humanity is difficult. Past history (going back for more generations than one) and mental deficiency are factors that should not be overlooked where the reform of evil-doers is concerned. The members of the Board, after long years of experience, can, however, say that their dealings with those of our citizens who have fallen give them hope for the future. The Board, after completing its circuit of the various prison institutions has to express its satisfaction at the marked progress achieved during the year in the various occupations and industries conducted by the Department. Beyond doubt the wise jxilicy of work and education that is being followed is doing much to rehabilitate the unfortunates who come within the ban of the law. Whilst much is being done to improve the mentality, the morality, and the physical condition of delinquents, the work should not be allowed to cease when, the individual offenders again enter the outside world. At this stage a helping hand would do much to prevent the return to evil ways of many of the men liberated. Were they assured on release of suitable employment under sympathetic and kindly supervision, possibly their greatest obstacle to final rehabilitation would be removed. That some organized system is necessary for the after-care of prisoners is very apparent. Efforts in this direction have been made by individual social workers with satisfactory results, but the want of voluntary " after-care " organizations on the lines of those established in connection with the prisons of Great Britain is badly felt. Until such organizations are in evidence we shall continue to have an undue number of " failures " among those who are discharged or who are released on probation from our, penal institutions. In preceding reports the Board has referred to the increase of sexual crime, and the necessity that exists for the imposition of some check upon its further growth. It is gratifying to know that its representations on this subject have received recognition, and that a Committee of Inquiry has been set up to investigate the matter and to make recommendations thereon. Pending further and more definite action, the Board suggests that the Crimes Act be amended in such manner that Judges and Magistrates may be vested with discretionary power to pass indeterminate sentences upon sexual offenders who have repeated or are likely to repeat offences of this character. Provision should also be made for the Board to be advised by a skilled psychiatrist with special training in modern psychology, or by some general medical practitioner qualified to examine the offenders scientifically, and to recommend treatment in suitable cases. Release on probation- or discharge would not be granted unless the expert authority advised that confinement was no longer necessary in the public interest, or that a term away from the institution "on trial " was likely to result in the offender's complete recovery. Wellington, 31 st July, 1924. Robert Stout, President.

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