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J 930. NEW ZEALAND

OFFENDERS PROBATION UNDER OFFENDERS PROBATION ACT, 1920, AND CRIMES AMENDMENT ACT, 1910 (REPORT ON OPERATION OF), FOR THE YEAR 1929-30.

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

The Hon. the Minister of Justice to His Excellency the Governor-General. Sir — Wellington, I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Chief Probation Officer on the operations of the Offenders Probation Act for the year 1929-30. I have, &,c., John G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice. The Chief Probation Officer to the Hon. the Minister of Justice. Sir, — I have the honour to present my annual report on the work of the probation system under the Offenders Probation Act and the Crimes Amendment Act, together with the reports of the Field Organizer and the principal District Probation Officers, for the year ended 31st December, 1929. Probation has been a part of our judicial machinery for the past forty-four years, having first come into operation on the passing of the First Offenders' Probation Act, 1886. The provisions were extended by the Offenders Probation Act, 1920, the scope of the Act having previously been restricted to first offenders. Three years ago the organization of the scheme was made more effective by the appointment of several full-time Probation Officers, and by the institution of a plan to enlist the active co-operation of voluntary committees to work with the Probation Officers in the care and supervision of persons placed on probation. The statistical tables attached hereto and the subsidiary reports appended from the Probation Officers show that in the great majority of cases those admitted to probation have justified the clemency extended, and, with a few exceptions, have satisfactorily complied with the conditions of their probation. There were 1,886 cases dealt with during the year, made up of 708 new admissions and 1,178 on the books at the commencement of the year. Of the total number dealt with only 161, or a fraction over 8 per cent., failed to conform with the conditions imposed upon them by the Court. A total sum of £4,513 19s. 7d., representing restitution-moneys and costs of prosecution, was collected from probationers during the year. This is an increase of 9 per cent, over the amount collected for the previous year, and is the largest amount that has so far been collected in any one year since probation was instituted. The total sum collected since the inception of the scheme amounts to £46,003, the greater portion of which comprises restitution to victims. This is a positive feature of probation as compared with imprisonment where the victim receives nothing and the offender becomes a charge on the taxpayer. The foregoing satisfactory results, particularly in regard to the small percentage of failures, bears witness to the efficacy of the methods adopted, and is due mainly to the thoroughness with which Probation Officers have carried out their duties and to the splendid assistance given by a large band of voluntary helpers.

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