DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 160, 27 September 1927, Page 14

DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

CRIME (Copyright, 1927) JUSTICE WILLIAM HARMAN BLACK brought out some very good points on the matter of crime the other day at the meeting of the Crime Study Commission. After many years of practical experience on the bench, and after thoroughly investigating the subject, he mentioned the following items: In the first place, we should recognise that crime is a business, and as much a calling as being a merchant, a doctor, or a labourer. A young man goes into a career of crime, because of his love of adventure. It is a gambling proposition. The odds are against him, and he enjoys pitting his life and liberty against success. J 1 The fact that most criminals are eventually apprehended and punished does not deter him. Youtu is always ready to take a chance. The criminal therefore ought not to complain if, after the risk he took with his eyes open, he suffers the penalty of the law, and other people ought not to complain for him Justice should be swift and relentless. Judges and policemen ought to be experts in practical criminology. Their business is not merely to apprehend and punish the person, but to understand how to reform the man and how to protect society. Much could be done if judges were required to examine the prisoner before the lawyers got hold of him, as is the case in many European countries. The rule that a man can be convicted only by unanimous consent of twelve of his peers, is not fair to societj’. A conviction ought to rest upon a two-thirds vote. One crook, one fool, or one mush-head ought not to be able to clear a man in a court room before an applauding audience. Many of the laws of Scotland, Belgium, and Switzerland, and many of those of the United States, provide this. Expert witnesses should not be called by the prosecution or defence, but should be experts employed by the court, as free as possible from all influence governing their decision. In many criminal cases in Europe they have a thirteenth juror, who only casts his vote when one of the twelve becomes ill or dies. Prisoners should be paid for their work, and as far as possible reimburse from their earnings the victim, o’- the family. They should be taught a trade, and enabled to obtain a position in society when they have finished their prison term. When a man is unjustly convicted in a lower court, and afterwards vindicated by a higher court, he should be reimbursed the expense be has had in defending himself. The accused should not be compelled to pay for the mistakes of the prosecution. The judge lays the greatest emphasis, however upon family training and attractive home conditions. These are the greatest instrumentalities in the prevention of crime.