JUVENILE OFFENDERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2913, 27 October 1916, Page 7

JUVENILE OFFENDERS

AUCKLAND'S PROBATION SYSTEM THE HOME OR THE INSTITUTION,

Since tho beginning of 1913 a system of probation for youthful offenders against the law has been in operation in the city of Auckland. Tho law makos provision for the granting of probation by tho Courts in tho cases of ordinary offenders who aro convicted for the first time. But it docs not deal particularly with the cases of children, andT'the systom pursued in Auckhuid, fey co-operation of tho police, the Magistrates, and "the Education Department, has been tentative in cbaraotor. But its results havo been so very good that an extension of .the sohomn to tho other ccntros is likely to be arranged in the future. Referring to this matter yesterday, the Minister of Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) said that a report placed heforo him'by officers of his Department showed that the Auckland system of probation had been highly successful from tho social point of view, as well as on tho financial side. During the period trofti January 1, 1913, to Juno 130, 1916, no fewer than 197 children in the city of Auckland were nominally committed to industrial sohools, hut actually placed upon probation. They were then subject to supervision by a probation officerj and wero mado to understand that their future status depended upon good behaviour. In all cases the probation had to be cancelled, and tho boys concerned sent into industrial schools, but quite 95 per cent, ot our young people gavo no nirther serious trouble. The State was saved the cost of maintaining them in industrial schools, and the youthful offenders themselves were left in their homes.

The probation officors, the. Minister explained, wero able to do a groat deal of _ preventative work. Many of ths children who came under tho notice of thb police were merely thoughtless or mischievous, and in no way vicious. The practice in Auckland was toplaoe suoh cases under the probation officers, and experience had shown that a few months' supervision usually checked the tendency to draft into wrong courses. ' lV rho work seems capable of extension," said Mr. Hanan. "It lias been suggested to mo that wo should appoint juvenile probation officors, who would have authority to take action In _ the cases of children found to be living in improper surroundings, or transgressing the law in ways that do not amount to actual crimo. Theso officers could watch tlio interests of children of tho types that tend to (*et into trouble, and could exoroise a guiding influence without bringing the young people into touch; with the ordinary police or the industrial schools. Tho special merit of tho probation sysr tem is that it is preventative rather fchail punitive. The officers would aim at the building up of oharacter in the natural surroundings of tho children's own homes."

Experiences in Auokland has suggested the,need of "houses of detention,"' which could • bo used in connection with the probation system. Youthful offenders, who find their way into the haiids of tho police at the present time aro detained temporarily on the female side of the police lock-ups. The iriefhod admittedly is undesirable, hut it appears inevitable in the absence of any other provision. There are some cases that' do not. appear suitable for immediate probation, and they could be placed in a house of dotention for a week or so by order of a Magistrate lieforo being admitted to ; probation. The Minister is considering the adviaability of making provision for such houses of detention at the chief centres,' With the object of ensuring eventually that no child shall, be placed in an. ordinary prison or lock-up even for a brief period. During the last three years the boys admitted' to industrial schools in districts other than Auckland have in-, eluded 110 la3s' whose parents were of good character. ' Wellington provided 53 of these boys, Canterbury 21, and Ot'ago and Southland 36. If a probation system- on the Auckland linos had been in operation in the other centres,: it isi probable that nearly all these boys' would have been admitted to probation. They, would have been able to remain in their own homes, where they would; Ifiive had a better chance of happiness arid probably of moral well-being, than the. Stats can offer thorn in public institutions. - -..