REFORMATIVE TERM OF FIVE YEARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 984, 29 May 1930, Page 12

REFORMATIVE TERM OF FIVE YEARS

CASE FOR PRISONS BOARD In passing sentence of five years’ veViatoti t '- V for etenti °' n ° n stanle y Albert on littTe h Ser !f S ° r eight offences on little boys and girls, Mr. Justice Heidman m the Supreme Court todav said that while the prisoner was serving his term he would be under obserration by the Prisons Board and, if necessary he could be transferred to a mental hospital. Mr. Northcroft, who appeared for the prisoner, said that he realised the difficulty in suggesting proper treatment 1 ca ‘? es ‘ Counsel pointed out that according to the report of the Superintendent of the Mental Hospital the prisoner came within class 7 of the Mental Defectives Act, 1928. His Honour pointed out that he had no power to send a man to an institution.

Mr. Northcroft contended the prisoner not only suffered from anti-social habits but was a mental defective and it was desirable, If suitable machinery could be found, that he should be dealt with in this way. Unfortunately a great many men who were not mentally defective, but were morally deficient, came before the Court. In this case the doctor thought there was a prospect of redemption if the man were placed in proper hands, and counsel suggested that prisoner be ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on condition he entered a mental hospital.

Mr. Meredith. Crown Prosecutor, said that the difficulty was that this might apply to quite a number of offenders. In his opinion a preferable course would be to sentence prisoner to reformative detention, where the question could be gone into by the proper authorities and there was machinery for his transfer, if necessary, to a mental hospital. His Honour, in passing sentence, pointed out that the prisoner was not so mentally weak that two doctors would certify him. He had no doubt that men of prisoner's type were to some extent mentally disordered, but the trouble was that time after time such men came before the court and pleaded guilty to disgusting crimes. He considered the proper method was to sentence prisoner to reformative detention and allow the Prisons Board, guided by Dr. Gray to deal with the case.