NEW ZEALAND’S JUVENILE COURTS

Shannon News, 21 December 1923, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND’S JUVENILE COURTS

AN IMPROVEMENT OVERDUE,

PLEA BY EDUCATION OFFICER

A" strong plea for improved juvenile courts in New Zealand, was made by Mr J. Beck, officer in charge of the Education ''Department's Industrial and Special School, to a “News” reporter on Thursday. “Our juvenile courts are all behind the times,” said Mr Beck, “and .we are trying hard to get the law altered so that the system known in England as the equity court and in America as the chancery court may he substituted. ‘ Our system was in vogue in England many years ago and was abolished. Through it, in very many cases, our chances of doing a hoy any good are ruined before lie is handeu over to us for treatment. I had better explain how the present system works. We are not allowed to take a boy over 16 directly from the Court. He has to be committed to gaol and before wq can get him the Magistrate lias to recommend his transfer to Weraroa. This necessitates an authorii from the Governor,-General which means that the hoy is sent to, say, Mt. Eden gaol. Hie is handled by the police, rides in the “Black Maria,” travels under escort, is locked up in a cell in the same prison as hardened u’iminals, in short he goes all through the criminal mill. Then he. is sent to us tQ reform. When he gets to Weraroa and finds that there are no bolts and bars and no man standing by with a gun, his. first instinct is naturally to escape.. If we can keep him here for a week or two he is usually all . right. Even in the case of the child under 16 ,he. has to be brought up in Gourt by the police and charged - with the offence, just as if he were an adult responsible for his actions. This applies, even to destitute children; they are charged .with destitution, as if it were a crime. Until a very short time ago they used to be. actually convicted, but now, wherever possible,, the case is adjourned sine die. And, in the case of children under 16, convicted of an indictable offence, for which they are | really not responsible, they go' to gaol. I could tell you of a boy of 13 who was sent to Mt ,Eden gaol and went all through the criminal mill. I have described. It makes the very worst possible impression on childi ren, gives them a distorted experience from which some never recover. Now what .wq want to do is to have a juvenile court which will puft the children directly into the hands ~0l the Education Department’s probation officer. Information against them could be laid directly with the magistrate or with the officer. Police, evidence could be taken, but the- child would not be handled by them. A Bill to bring about this alteration is to be introduced in Parliament and it will have imy whole hearted sup-