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Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1920, Page 4

The report of the Prisons Board states that the prisoners who have been dealt with under the system of reformative detention are less prone again to offend than those who have been declared habitual criminals, but it is nevertheless a source of gratification that so large a proportion of the latter have proved themselves sufficiently trustworthy once more to take and to keep | their places amongst their fellow-citi-zens. It is to be remembered that they are often heirs to criminal tendencies that have in many cases been aggravated by the surroundings of their youth. To discard this heritage and become useful citizens is no easy matter. Of the total number of habitual criminals released on probation, 49 per cent, were returned to prison, either for noncompliance with the conditions of probation, or for committing further offences. Of the remaining 51 per cent 7 have died, 21 have returned to their former places of residence, 1 has been committed to a mental hospital, and 38 are still under the surveillance of the probation officers. In marked contrast to these figures arc the statistics relating to tlve prisoners under reformative detention, which serve to furnish but further proof of the beneficial results of that system. The fact that 76 per cent of the total number released after that treatment have not further offended is a matter of considerable satisfaction. The success now obtained is in a large measure due to the beneficial effect of the open-air life and useful work on the prisons’ farms established.