JUVENILE CRIME

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 678, 1 June 1929, Page 6

JUVENILE CRIME

HOW SHOULD OFFENDERS BE DEALT WITH PUBLICITY AND PROCEDURE Press Association WELLINGTON, Friday. Valuable information as to the working of the children’s courts in New Zealand has been gathered by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, as a result of the replies given to the six questions on the subject which he recently submitted to the presiding magistrates. The Minister said he had received replies from 26 magistrates, who were circularised, and had prepared a precis of their answers having relation to the questions presented. He intended now to obtain the opinion of the comissioner of police, through his officers who were concerned, and he had written to the Minister of Education, whose department had control of the Child Welfare Branch, asking him if he would add to the deductions arrived at, the opinions of the child welfare officers of the Education Department.

The questions, together with the replies, were:— % Question 1. —Is it wise to prejudge that in all cases, irrespective of the nature of the offences and,«the public interests involved, the Press should be excluded? —Twenty-three answer no; three answer yes.

Question 2. —Shotfld the offender’s name be suppressed in all classes, irrespective of the offence, the temperament of the offender, and his attempts to inculpate others? —Sixteen answer no; eight answer'yes; two are indefinite.

Question 3. —Should the offender be brought into a room shorn of all the appearance of the surroundings of a court, irrespective of the offence and the offender’s bearing toward authority, and the country’s ideals?— Eighteen answer no; four answer yes; four are indefinite.

Question 4. —When charged with housebreaking, burglary, or other serious offences, should young persons above the age of 14 years be brought before the children’s court to be dealt with?—Five answer no; nine answer yes; 11 say the power to commit to the Supreme Court should be retained; one is indefinite.

Question 5. —Are the Press excluded in your court? —Fourteen answer no; nine answer yes; three are indefinite.

Question 6. —Do the police appear in uniform?—Five answer no; 14 answer yes; seven are indefinite. The Minister added that, apart from the foregoing questions, seven magistrates urged that they should have power to order a birching, while four magistrates suggested that power should be given the children’s courts to commit to Borstal institutions in indictable cases.