H.—2OA

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

PRISONS BOARD. (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR 1939.

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

Members of the Board. Hon. Sir Htjbekt Ostler, Kt. (President); Sir Donald MoGavin, Kt. C.M.G., D.5.0., M.I). (Lond.), F.R.C.S. (Eng.); Hon. John Alexander, C.M.G., M.L.C.; B. L. Dallaed, Esq.; Theo. G. Gray, Esq., C.M.G., M.8., M.P.C.; and Ernest Edeidqe, Esq.

Sir, — June, 1940. I have the honour to forward herewith the report of the Prisons Board for the year 1939 I have, &c., H. H. Ostler, The Hon. the Minister of Justice. President.

REPORT OF THE PRISONS BOARD. For the Year ended 31st December, 1939. The Board, has to report that during the year it visited each of the prisons, prison camps, and Borstal institutions in the Dominion. It dealt with a total of 1,029 cases at seventeen meetings held in Wellington and at the various institutions. The following summary gives details of the cases considered and the decisions arrived at :■ — Cases dealt with. Board's Decisions. Persons undergoing Borstal detention .. 298 Recommended for release on probation .. 425 Persons sentenced to reformative detention 277 Deferred for later consideration .. .. 524 Persons sentenced to hard labour .. .. 337 Petitions declined .. .. 22 Habitual criminals .. .. 58 Recommended for discharge .. .. 21 Habitual offenders . . .. .. — Discharged from probation .. .. 34 Habitual criminals for remission of head Recommended remission of head sentence 1 sentence .. .. .. .. 1 Modification of terms of probation .. 2 Probationers under Crimes Amendment Act 19 Probationers under Offenders Probation Act 39 1,029 1,029 Owing to the present paper shortage and the necessity for economy generally it is intended to make only a brief review of the Board's operations during the past year. The number of cases considered by the Board during the year under review shows an increase, being 1,029, as compared with 954 in the previous year ; while the number granted a remission of sentence correspondingly increased from 413 to 458. The statistics when compared with those of former reports show that the percentage of offenders who respond and evidently make good has been maintained. Approximately 22 per cent, only of ths total number released after undergoing sentences of Borstal detention and reformative detention or imprisonment with hard labour have been reconvicted or failed to comply with the conditions of their release. Of the habitual criminals released on parole since the constitution of the Prisons Board in 1911, 56 per cent, have been returned to prison for non-compliance with the conditions of release or for further offences. Comparison of the foregoing figures with those of last year shows that the results have remained constant and, having regard to the intractable material dealt with, may be regarded as fairly satisfactory. In previous reports it has been pointed out that the habitual criminal, as the statutory term indicates, has become more or less set in his habits, and, after a lifetime of crime, the prospect of reformation is not very hopeful. The Board has, however, in selected cases endeavoured to give offenders in this group deemed to be deserving a chance to continue in civil life the records they have made for industry, good conduct, intelligent, and valuable work while in prison.