THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3983, 16 July 1915, Page 3

THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

PROBLEM OF EMPLOYMENT ON RELEASE

SIR ROBERT STOUT ADVOCATES SPECIAL FARMS.

By Telegraph—Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, July 14. An interesting dissertation on the treatment of prisoners is contained u the animal report- of the Prisons Board presented to Parliament to-day. •‘lf we are to look lor an improvement in the conduct of those who come out of prison,” says tho Chairman of the Board'( Sir Robert Stout), “something more must be done by the society for the released prisoner than has yet been done. Tho burden that lie carries has to be remembered. Ho lias a dishonored name. Even his own relatives have often lost confidence in him and he is generally without character or.credit. He looks for work and sometimes finds it and the kindness of his employer often helps him in his struggle to live. Well, all employers are not a 1 wavs considerate. He sometimes gets out of work and loses 'heart. To whom can he turn for assistance? “There are Prisoners Aid Societies- in the larger towns who help those just released from gaol and considering tire small funds they have to expend m assistance they often do good work, but it- is hardly their function to keep in touch with men or women who have been for some time tree. Other associations connected with some of' tho religious organisations help, but the released prisoner wants some additional help. His fall when he again falls arises often from two causes — first, want of suitable employinenp, and second, indulgence in alcohol. AVo venture to suggest that there should be Some Government farms, pastoral, agricultural, horticultural or _ fruit growing, to which every prisonei would know that when he was out of work he could go and get lodgings, food, etc., on his giving a .satisfactory return in work. He would also be entitled to some wages, but- as tho institution would not bo a place i»>i any but casual work lie would hai o to be content with less reward than is obtained where work is of a P ( ‘imanent character. If such an institution were founded it would be self supporting and it would give no excuse for a until relapsing into crime through lack oi the means of subsistence or lack of worn. Gave would have to be taken that the manager of such an institution would be possessed of strong common sense coupled with kindness of heart and demeanour. There are institutions in other countries akin to what wo suggest and they have been successful m helping many who required assistance. During the term tho Board has been in existence it has watched with interest many changes in the admnus tration of prison work following upon the legislation of 1910. It desires to office on record its appreciation ol difficulties which havo met the Department and the manner in which many of them have been overcome. 'The Board has seen much improvement m every wav in discipline, in general administration, in the hopefulness ot many prisoners and in, their conduct J n and out of prison. Much no doubt remains to be accomplished. The reformation of prisoners is like the improvement and advance of the rest o humanity—a slow movement—and if progress is being made something him been accomplished; too much must not be expected from reformative detention.

In some instances the sentences are so light- that- men trained to a career of crime have not time to learn industrious habits. The courts no doubt in awarding short reformative sentences do so as an equivalent tor probation out of prison and in cases where probation cannot- well lie given, leaving it- to the Board to grant probation should such be considered advisable. Any probation however, less than two years is of little avail. As we have, however, said the results on the whole are satisfactory.