THE PROBATION SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1925, Page 4

THE PROBATION SYSTEM

IT HAS CO AIE TO STAY

The reports of the Chief Probation Officer (Mr M. Hawkins) and of the Wellington deputy and district officers to the Minister lor .Justice are now made available for publication. Each agrees that the probation system has emne to stay in New Zealand, and that most valuable work is being done by its application, to first offenders and to ot hers recommended to probations! ,v surveillance by the Raisons lfoaid ol convicted and ordered to come up lor sentence when called upon, thus automatically coming under the Probation Ad. During the year lid!) persons received the 'benefits of the probation svstem.

’••The steady increase in the number ol persons admitted to probation, comments the Chief Probation Officer, “indicates a growing confidence in the system its an effective means of disciplining and reforming certain classes of delinquents w ithout commit incut to reformatorv institutions or prisons. The principle of probation has now a sate place in our system of criminal law. and our efforts ale in lhe direction of gradually enlarging its scope and establishing an ideal and inexpensive method of dealing vviih offenders whom the courts consider worthy ol an opportunity to prove their desire to reform.

NOT A PANACEA FOR CRIME. "Probation is not to lie regarded as a nanneea for crime, and it is not suggested that it should he applied in every ease where first offenders come before the courts. Careful discrimination based on a thorough investigation of every offender is absolutely necessary, and in carrying out their investigations the probation officers are coni'route.! with difficult and delicate problems which require the most rarelul and intelligent handling. 'ln achieve -ticce-s the Probation Act must he sympathetically admim-tered. hut sentimental leniency or slackness in th: treatment of delinquents are fraught with grave social consequences, and the successful probation officer must act firmly hut kindly.

•■Ot the AN!) persons i'tr-t olfeuder-j who were admitted to probation during the year Id failed to re-pond to the leniency offered them—making the percentage of successes (ill. The result is slightly less satisfactory than the figures for the previous year: hut a. -ystcni which stives Iroin the stigma ol prison over !>!? per cent, ol oilenderand incidentally benefits the persons defrauded, as well as saving expense to the Treasure, i- worthy ol development. It must he remembered that <>lfcmlers sometimes come Indore tlm court before the probation officer can thoroughly investigate their eases, and m oilier instances antecedents ol ol|em lor- cannot he ascertained pnitieiilarlv where they are not long in the Dominion. A number ol -noli eases is doomed to failure, lint the opportunity to wake good i- oflored. A\ hen these and other handicaps under which pronation officers labour are considered the actual uiinihor of failures seems remarkably small.

"Tile collect ion o! court cost- and rest i 1 ttlion moneys is an important !enjni'eof the probation work. ( our! costs amounting to 7lk Ps Pd. and iv-tilit-t ion money- aggregating Pd ) L d- “d were collected 'luring Ihe pa-t financial veer. The total amount collected i oiisi it ute- a record, being Llb.'i' higher than the total collection ill any previne- year. “The section of the system in regard to prisoner- r.'leased from pri-on- or ri'lVriuatori'■■ on nrol alien ha- grown considerably during the past few years.

The prohaticii officer- keep in close touch with the nrohat buicrs and make cv'i'v possible ollort to prevent them from lapsing "gain into i rime ; hut Ihe cists-, oi men " ho arc n lea: ; d from pri-.on i r pro 1 al ion | re-cut an ettt tre--1 v different prohlcm Ir.oni the (ii'st otiVinh-r . Employ incut i- P nod lor the groatm- propnri ion of these pro'-a----t imc'i's in country districts away trolil old iioi'ciiiti- and other t cuipl a I ion-. 1 hey arc encouraged by tin- probation officers to save tlmir oarnino..-. ami many of them iiavc gcoil -11111- to their credit in the Post OI!i' c Savings Paul; PROGRESS TOWARDS PER FF.CT' II )N.

“It would he interesting (~ i 1 an the alter-'at eer nl those who have rend noted Ibe nisei von satisfactorily during the linn of prohai ion.'’ writes the \Ye! I i tickin i'rol,alien Ollieet' (Mr T. Jb Mill). "I’rol, ably th" m-

ii• rii; do ten 1 r;,n■ ;tres- again. hut to 11.\ knowledge there are iptile a niituher ale.i have not stood the lurlher let of time. ft is ohviotts that the ol.serval ton el these offenders only during the limil»•< 1 period of probation dees not eOl'l'CCl IV represent (lie value of frobatiin as a reformative agencyu In anv eas,, (he whole system in lily (-pinion is capable of improved methods. l’rohe.tiou has come to stay- it is essential, therefore, that !wc should

progress towards perfection. “The number of lapses would he reduced by the elimination of very doubtful eases. < specially those not. recommended hv the probation officer; sevorj or penalties for breaches of the conditions of probation; reports to he furnished on all eases where there are no previous convictions; a limited number of probationers to each probation officer; the appointment of honorary assi-t.int proha lion officers; and a judi- < i ;; 1 s increase in the amount ef money allocaled for the support of the system. fit view of the great saving eii'eeted hv keeping these men out of prison, run nine; as it docs well into live | figures, the important influenee also on the well-being of the community, which latter should probably have tie first place, the present expenditure can liardlv he considered adequate. “Of those who 1 ompleted the term of probation sat isfaet-orilv, some have made very praiseworthy efforts to win through. It is far from an easy batik' tlie diffietilty in obtaining suitable situations, the co-existent trouble to rehabilitate oneself in reputable eireles. in diets a heavy penalty for wrong-do-ing. Farm work perhaps affords more openi lifts than any other avenue of labour. hut that is mere skilled titan the average man generally allows. It is comparatively easy to place an experienced youth on a farm. Imt the un--kidl'd man is a jirohlem. There are large numbers of our young men badly equipped for tliese emergencies. and it contributes largely to their downfall.

TMD ItD.CIHTriXG miODXD, It is an to find a wood tradesman lie fore the court for any offence. ()! tile lilt}-o<l< 1 men who passed through my hands otdv twelve had tiny real knowledge of skilled work. In this connection 1 would welcome any step to extend school aye to make that possible. The recruiting ground of the criminal is from the mentylk dull ;tnil stit] .id. am! it is pleasing to s n e that special tuition is he inn pi veu to help these. Skill with the hamD is of iiiiioitelv more importance to the

(ivmnruinty and to tin’s (la-:, ef individual than ability to colour a map or work out a fraction sum. It is aim y these lines that a groat advance will he made in coping with the criminal problem. Probation is pood, the Horsial Institution is wood; under existing 1 in-umsiami's Is.tit ;tv invaluab!\ and b',tit doubt jess will continue far all time; I tit: 1 , he p'-operly equi..o< il til meet the pitfalls of life is the mo- t urgent obligation of the .State to the youth of to-day. Apart from the higher ideals of the Christian faith, salvation is through work, and skilled work,”

FEMALE PROBATIONERS. “I wish to state,” wrote Airs R. Glover, in charge of female probationers, Wellington, “that since my appointment as woman probation officer (I was the first appointed in New Zealand), with the exception of three probationers, not one has been helorc the court for a second offence. I hi-; speaks admirably for the system.” “From nIV long and varied experience of work amongst, women, and the had results in so many eases where voting offenders liavc been sent to prison. I feel that the probation work Is a. success, despite the lew that have failed to make good,' ropoit- Alt' Annie Gordon (Auckland). “ 1 lie making of restitution is one ol the greatest: tilings in the probation system.