PRISON REFORM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 340, 16 March 1910, Page 5

PRISON REFORM

DR. FINDLAY'S SCHEME. COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSALS. By Telegraph.—Press' Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. Dr. Findlay, Minister of Justice, gave particulars of his prison reform scheme to a New Zealand Times representative to-night. The provisions oi the indeterminate sentence are extended and made applicable to all cases, though determinate sentence will be retained in all proper cases. The following institutions are provided for:—Penitentiaries for male prisoners; an institution ftor sexual perverts and criminals of unsound mind; an institution for incorrigible drunkards; prison camps; a reformatory farm; a penitentiary and reformatory for women. ' Provision is made for the extension of the probation system and xor dealing with occasional and habitual drunkards. Prisoners are to be classified on a double basis—first, as to type; second, as to conduct and improvement. The case of every prisoner sentenced to indeterminate sentence will be reviewed every three months. Every prisoner by performing bis taslc will earn credit marks having a definite monetary value. The relief of dependents of a prisoner will be the first charge on his earnings. All physically capable prisoners will be employed on remunerative works, such as stonemason.ry, ironmoulding, timvaremaking, book-covers, and bootmaking. Education will be provided for illiterates, enabling fourth standard requirements in reading, writing, and arithmetic to ue paissed. The extension of the prison camp system is proposed, taking in occupations other than tree-planting. Special provisions are made for the classification of drunkards.