JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1849, 8 September 1913, Page 4

JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

« THE YEAR'S RECORD. THE TRIBUNAL AND ITO WORK, Annual reports by the Stipendiary Magistrates upon tlio working of tlio Juvonilo Court for the year ended December 31, 1912,. we're presented to Parliament yesterday. Mr. W. G. Riddell. (Wellington), in the course of liis report, says:—"ln dealing with juvenile offenders the. procedure laid ([own in Part lll,of tho Justices of tho Peaco Act, 1908, is followed. Tho Juvenile Court is held in tho small Courtroom or in tho Magistrates' private room, and is usually fixcdi for 9.30 a.m., or soino other suitable hour on tho date of hearing. The parents of tho juveaiilo charged, are always notified to attend, and generally ono of them is present. If t3ie" parents do not attend in tlio first instance, tho caso is adjourned so that thoy may bo again notified. Mr. T. P. Mills, malinger of the Presbyterian Orphanage at Berhainporo—an institution interested in tho reform of juveniles—makes it a practico to attend regularly at tho Juvonilo Court. His experience in dealing with juveniles is of great assistance to tlio Court, and is much appreciated. During tlio year 1912 forty-six children wore brought before .the Court charged with having no means of subsistence or for living with undesirablo persons. Those children were' placed in an industrial school. Sbme of tho children dealt with during tho year referred to were second offenders. As may be seen from tho returns, the charges aro varied in character, but by far tho greater proportion of thorn aro for offences involving dishonesty. Tho chief causa which results iu the commission of ju/raiilb offences is lack of proper supervision and discipline on the part of the parents. In all cases tho suTtroundings, school attend'anco; general habits, ondl character of tho 'young persona charged! aro inquired into, and the parents given an opportunity of exercising better supervision over their children. In tliia respect they call rely on the help and advico of Mr. Mills, who is genorallj? to keep tho offender under observation so that if liis home supervision does hot improve ho may still be undbr tho eyo of ono who takes an interest ire his conduct. Mr. Mills's work is of considerable i value, and could bo niado.more so if ho woro attached to tlio Court in some official capacity instead of acting voluntarily or upon request. Second offenders n.ro usually treated more strictly than first offenders, and if their home conditions and surroundings aro considered' undesirable, they are committed to an industrial school. In some cases Mr. Mills has found positions in the oomitry foT boys who liavo been charged l oil more than ono occasion, and in the majority .of instances they , liavo given satisfaction to their employers. In a number of cases where tho parents liavo not punished tilio offender ■ in any way a birching lias been ordered as provided by statute and when deemed necessary, but this form of punishment is nevoT ordered where tho health of tlio boy would bo affected. Tho birching is administered by a constable in tlio presenco of a sergeant of polioo, and in ( the presenco of the parents if they or. one of them desire to uo present. On tho . whole, taking into consideration tlio' small number of second offenders who appear before tlio Court, the work may bo regarded as successful and conducive to tho interests and benefit of those young persons brought before tlio Court "as well as to tho public!" Daring tho year- tho following were tho totals of tho children apprehended at tfoo various centres: —Auckland, 184 | males, 21 females;' Cliristchurch, 214 males, 34 females; Dunedin, 60 males, . 10 Wellington,' 176 males, 23 ■ females.