REFORMATIVE DETENTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 960, 1 May 1930, Page 9

REFORMATIVE DETENTION

HOWARD LEAGUE’S OPINION Press WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Dominion Conference of th« Howard League for Penal Reform today passed the following remits: "That since *it is admitted tha sentences respectively of hard laboui and reformative detention product practically no difference whatever ii prison treatment, the sentence of re formative detention be abolished. Tru* reformative treatment could at present be much more effectively and econ omically given if the prevailing systen ot sentencing to long terms of reformative detention (which are found to impair rather than strengthen initiative, judgment and sense of responsibility) could be exchanged for either strict probation or comparatively brief terms of really hard labour, followed by a comparatively long term of supervision within the community of probationary' licence.” (It was also agreed that notices informing prisoners of their rights should be posted in all lockups by’ the department.) “That attached to every penal institution there should be a welfare board consisting of welfare helpers, accredited visitors, educational advisers and teachers, together with the warden, chaplain and medical officer to consult together in reference to inmates and report to the Prisons Board concerning each case.” "That it is necessary to ijaise the status of prison officials by requiring higher initial qualifications and by the provision of subsequent courses of training of a wider educational nature than obtain at the present lime.” That a system of cultural adult education be established to provide new and healthy interests for prisoners and bring them into contact with tutors of character and personality, and that an educational adviser be appointed to each prison to assist and advise the superintendent in the development of the scheme, the tutors to bo voluntary.”