PRISON REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1923, Page 1

PRISON REPORT.

INCREASE IN JUVENILE CRIME. WELLINGTON, August 10. The annual report of the Prisons Department states that, the criminal statistics for the past, year show that n total of 4509 distinct persons were received into the various prisons and prison institutions as compared with ■1995 during the previous year, a decrease of 8.5 per cent., but the daily average number in custody increased from 1005.00 in 1921 to 11 Kb to in 1922, an increase of 1.4 per cent. The decrease in i crept.ions and the increase in tile daily average would appear to lie anomalous, but this is accounted for f>y the fact that during the past year the number of long-sentence prisoners received shows a pronounced in- ■ ■ roast*. whiNt there is a col responding decrease in the number of persons received for short terms. In comparing the sentences imposed in 1922 with those of the previous year, it is found that there is an increase of fully 190 per cent, in tile number of persons declared habitual criminals. The number sentenced to reformative detention increased by 44.2 per cent., but hard labour sentences showed a slight decrease.

“There is undoubtedly an increase in juvenile crime in tin's country.” declared Hie Hull. C. ,1. Parr, Minister of Justice in presenting the Report for the past year to the House to-day. Mr Parr said this fact was causing the Controller-General of Prisons some anxiety. Tn addition to the statement that youthful offenders continue to increase the "Prisons Report shows that a total of 240 New Zealand-horn prisoners between the ages of fifteen and twentylive were received during 1922, an increase of 120, or 58 per cent of the figures for 1921. Crime among youthful Maoris appears to be on the increase. Twenty-nine Maoris under twenty years were received during the past year, as against ten during 1921. ‘•The general increase in the prison population,’’ says the report, “is no doubt symptomatic of the times, but when it. is realised that the hulk ol the increase during the past two years has been in the more juvenile class ol offenders only the position that has arisen is regrettable to the last degree. It is time indeed that this phase ol oriminalitv received some definite study on the pait of some person or set of persons specially suited and specially employed for ibis important class of research work. It is a question of cause and effect. Until the origin of a. disease is discovered it is impossible to apply an effectixo remedy. Di some States of America there are social welfare departments with properly qualified staffs to deal with every phase of social reform work. While New /calami is not yet sufficiently populous to warrant heavy expenditure in this direction there is ample room for co-ordl-nniion of ell’oit. A properly organised Si i.d Welfare. Department, combining the activities ot some halt-dozen departments and private organisations that are dealing with various phases of the subject would not necessarily lead to much additional expenditure, but it siicli a. department were established under efficient leadership there would he little difficulty in providing a special research branch to investigate the root eases of crime and poverty, and to provide formulae, at least for amelioration. At present there is no authority to whom members of the public may appeal when matters affecting the soei al welfare of the community come under their notice. It is ‘nobodys’ business.’ least of all the business of the Prisons Department, but with such evidence before us ol the result of general neglect of the primary principles if so'-ial reform we led that it is at least ‘our business' to draw public attention to the matter.”

Mr Exit oommemoil l-lmt no doubt in mailv cases home Lie and discipline were very much at fault. A member: Lack of housing. borstal not large enough. “Some years ago.” continues the report. ‘our scheme of primary classification provided ini’ all oflenders of twenty-live years of age and under being sent to Invercargill, but the influx of young men and boys has recently become so marked that accommodation at the Borstal I u.-titution proved totally i ll iiclo*|iiitlf*. Jii'sl ti» ;i consequence it vas found! neeessn \y to reduce tile limit to twenty-three. From pwont indications it is apparent that miles* L:;e wave of juvenile crime diminishes the maximum nge for Invercargill will rcqimv to he reduced to t\\•*ut\-onc. which is the "Oiier-il maximum nge for (onimittais to the English Borstal Insl ituti<in. b’luing idlende: -! M'tv.eon twenty-one and twenty-live are sent In Waikeria liefonnatuiy. near To Awamuiu, where there tire eduetuiomil classes under a. full-time board school teacher tuul where also farming, dairying etc., is being carried on. thus i raining youthful offenders of this class to become useful members ol the community.”