THE PRISONS' BOARD REPORT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1849, 8 September 1913, Page 8

THE PRISONS' BOARD REPORT.

FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM. Interesting remarks oil the working of our present- system of reformative detention in tlio prisons of the Dominion are made in the'annual report of the Prisons Board, presented to Parliament. "Tho work of the board," says the chairman (Sir Robert Stout), "is stiil sufficiently new to the public to make it advisable to explain its jurisdiction before reviewing its labours. It came into being under the provisions of tho Crimes Amendment Act, 1910, for tho purpose of determining the eases of habitual criminals, of habitual offenders, and of persons sentenced to reformative detontion A person may bo declared to be an habitual criminal or offender who has been convicted of certain' olfences a specified number of times, and when so declared his detention is during tho pleasure of the Governor. Impediments." "I'lie board is of opinibn that many of tho habituals coming before it are not of a confirmed criminal'character, and that a fair proportion of tho prisoners sentenced to reformative detention are not in any way distinguishable from tlio ordinary criminal, while some appear to havo approached qualification if not to have already qualified to be classed as habituals. Tho board views this-with concern,'especially with regard to tho unpromising typo being sentenced to reformative det;ntion. It lias before expressed its sense of the impediments—almost inevitable impediments—to bo met with in introducing a new system and bringing it into working order, and finds itsqlf in a position to appreciate the difficulty in which the Department must be, under tho above conditions, in classifying prisoners un.der reformative detention, and framing regulations applicable to their class as a whole. Between tlje form of sentence imposed on prisoners coming and not coming under the survey of tho board are two broad distinctions: in ono case the actual date of discharge is more or less fixed, in tho other it is left open; in tho oi:o discharge from prison is absolute, in the othor there is power to release on license. The fact that tlio' prisoner may bo conditionally released is regarded by the board as a highly valuable and • essential part of tho scheme, a stage in the process of reformative treatment whicii provides a gradual . widening of the environment-, and allows a. prisoner to got a firm footing before stepping into complete liberty. Conditional Releaso. In dealing with habitual criminals and offenders it is tho duty of tho board' to decide whether and when such prisoner can be recommended for release on probation with safety to the public and for his own good, he having .a clear understanding that ho will bo returned to prison, if the terms of tho license are .not strictly adherod to. Where a prisoner has committed a number of offences, nono of which is of a dangerous character, and all of which are associated more or iess.. with tho adverse ' circumstances of his environment, ho would, in a very largo number of cases, havo to serve what is virtually a life sentence had ono to wait till doubts of a possible relapse ceased to exist. After such a man has served a reasonable sentence, is reported to have shown definite signs of improvement, and has impressed the board with his desire to go straight, the hoard feels than an opportunity should bo giveli him by conditional release, and has so acted. ' t ' Habitual Criminals. Hereunder is epitomised tho history of the .habitual criminals and offenders , released since tlio establishment of the board in .February, 1911: — In 1911. In 1912. Total number under sentence 57 72 Total number released on license 15 24 State on December 31, 1912, of those released on license: — ; - In In - 1911. 1912. Returned to prison ... 8 5 13 Whereabouts unknown 16 7 Satisfactory reports from probation offi- • cers 6 13 19 Totals 15 24 39 Analysing- this return it will be seen that one-third of the thirty-nine released b'roko the terms of probation, and wore returned to prison, and that almost one-half are reported to bo earning an honest livelihood. Tho condition of tho remaining seven is doubtful; after conducting themselves well for varying periods thoy failed to report themselves to their probation officers, and their whereabouts are unknown. With one exception, the crimes for which they were convicted were -associated with drink, and not ono of them is a'native of this country. Tho presumption, therefore, is that thoy have returned to their homes, or, at any rate, have left the Dominion. In somo of the number this has been ascertained to be tho case, and the remainder, if in New Zealand,' must be conducting themselves fairly well, because they could not long continue in hiding if giving way to drink. Twelve probationary licenses wero cancelled during tho year, while in tho case of one prisoner on license, tho reports wore sufficiently good for the board at its last meeting to recommend his discharge being made absolute. Ono prisoner, shortly after entering upon thn indeterminate part of his sentence, died in a general hospital whither he had been removed for treatment. In dealing'"with persons undergoing reformative/detention, the board _ endeavours, unless tho step is distinctly contra-indicated, to permit a portion of the sentence to bo served on license, regarding, as it docs, the measure of conditional release ns tho final stage of treatment before the discliargo becomes absolute. The-same factors which the Act reouiTes tho judicial authority to weigh before imposing a sentence of reformative detention are. with necessary modifications, considered by the board in coming to a decision as to when this stage shall be entered upon. Reformative Detention. ■ Hereunder is epitomised tho history of prisoners undergoing reformative detention since tho establishment of the board:— In In. 1911. 1912. Total number under reformative detention 98 190 Total number released without license 1 ' Total number released on license 5 34 State on December 31, 1912, of those released on license: — - In In 1911. 1912. Total Returned to prison ...;. — 3 3 Whereabouts unknown — 4 4 Completed probation satisfactorily 2 7 9 Term not yet complete; satisfactory reports > from Probation Officers 3 -19 22 Died — 1 1 "Totals 5 34 39 Curiously enough the total number , released on licenso is tho same as in > the case of tho habituals —namely, thirty-nine. Of these, threo broke tlio ' J[ terms of probation aad ware roturnod

to prison; twenty-two aro reported to be canting an honest living, and a similar report- was received respecting nine others who passed out of the jurisdiction of the board. In these nini)' eases the period between the date of release and the date of the expiry of the original sentence was the period that was spent on probation. One died and the whereabouts of four are doubtful. One of these absconded, and is supposed to havo left the country. His licenso was cancelled, as also wero those of file three who were returned to prison. In tho animal report of the board last year it was pointed out that, generally shaking, the prison buildings wero iil adapted for classification. With added experience it becomes clearer that the setting apart of a division of a prison for tlie segregation of persons under reformative detention will not suffice,' because it is evident that some reformative prisoners are as liable to corrupt their fellows as those.- from whom they would be kept apart in the special division. Outside Work. | The Department has, in a degree, met tho need for classification by selecting suitablo prisoners for tho tree-planting ■ camps (setting one of them aside for first-' offenders), and at tho reformatory farm at Waikeria; and the buildings at Addington, recently known as tho Samaritan Home, are, it is understood, being' adapted to fulfil the requirements of a fomalo prison. The board empha- , sises its opinion that persons entrusted with tho custody of prisoners require special training,-and learns with satisfaction that under the now regulations promotion of warders to tho higher ranks will depend on knowledge tested by examination. By its visits to Waina and Waiotapu tho board is convinced that the work being don© at these prison camps is good and healthful. It may not lead directly to the acquirine of skill necessary for gaining an appointment on discharge, but it is Calculated to —aiid, judging by appearances,* does —build up the constitution and produoes at tho end of tho term of imprisonment a much fitter typo of unskilled labourer. Labour the Cure. The standard of labour of the reformatory prisoners at the camps, the farm, and at Invercargill is high, but in tho nature of things thero are many prisoners who, either on account of their record or their physical condition, are unsuited for it-. Tho board is therefore of opinion that remunerative work entailing instruction and training which would bo of use in tho future should bo found for this residuum. The question is, what kind of work? There are doubtless many articles required in the Public Service of the Dominion the making of which in one or moro of the prisons would appropriately einplov at indoor work tho class mentioned. Work of this nature could bo provided that would not, or would not appreciably, compete with freo labour. Tho board is of opinion that the basis of all reformatory treatment must bo labour.. Tho motto - should bo "Nihil sino labore." To carry out this programmo thero woiild need to be wardcr-instruc-tors specially skilled in tho work of which the prisoners would bo engaged. Proper workshops would bo necessary, permitting disciplinary' supervision apart from tho instruction and tho prisoners ought. to bo allowed somo payment for work efficiently done. If this wore done, and tho cost of keep and surveillanno deducted, -the balance could bo banked against discharge, or, if thero bo dependants outside (wives and families) somo portion of tho earnings should bo expended in supporting them. This system is working successful^ - in other countries, and should bo adopted if thero is to he effective reformative treatment in tliis country.