N.Z. PRISONS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24913, 28 June 1946, Page 9

N.Z. PRISONS

Sir, —In the June, 1946, number of the “New Zealand Medical Journal” there is a review of Dr. R. M. Lindner’s Rebel Without a Cause,” which will interest all who hope to see mere imprisonment of our criminal psychopaths replaced by treatment. It reads, inter alia, “The greater part of the book consists of long excerpts from a verbal transcription of 46 ‘hypnoanalytic’ hours obtained by the use of a hidden microphone. Outside of the possible merits of Dr, Lindner’s approach, the insight the reader gets into the life of a typical criminal psychopath should help him to adopt a more tolerant attitude to these unfortunate people and to encourage treatment rather than punishment in such cases.”—Yours, etc., t D - E ’ CURRIE. June 26, 1946.

Sir,—How curious that those who consider repressive measures in dealing with crime ineffectual should so often be accused of sentimentality, or, as Mr Dallard puts it, “mushiness—a milk and watery attitude” and a “mischievous philosopy.” If punishment cured crime we would all support it. .But it does not; indeed, in many cases it fosters it. In England this method is slowly giving way to another approach—treatment through psychology. Would Mr Dallard consider the English “Institute for the Scientific Treatment of Delinquency” mushy and mischievous? Obviously, he could not do so. Yet punishment does not enter into this treatment; recidivists are being cured and crime often prevented in its earlier stages. Mr Dallard has tried his methods—and failed. Let him now give way to others with different views, who may be more successful.—Yours, etc., SCHOLASTICUS. June 26. 1946.