The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 18. PRISON REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 342, 18 March 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 18. PRISON REFORM.

Since the Hon. Dr. Findlay, Minister of Justice, assumed this important portfolio, he has given abundant evidence of application to devising means whereby "curative" treatment may be combined with punishment, in dealing with lawBreakers and offenders against morality. In some directions far-reaching changes .have, been inaugurated, but on the comprehensive question oi prison reform, we liave been regaled mainly with academical treatises on penology. Dr. Pindlay's theories, while involving a radical alteration in the methods of our prisons, were not such as would com mit the country to the .possibility of costly failure, for much lof the general of reform he has been advocating is already in operation in many countries where more thought has been expended on reclaiming the criminal wastage. Prison reform in New Zealand has now, however, made an advance from the theoretical stage to practical proposal. Cabinet has now adopted an up-to-date scheme, which, while requiring the endorsement oi Parliament before being brought into full operation, will at once be given effect to so far as possible. Briefly the idea, while making a genuine attempt to assist the reform of prisoners, and cope with degeneracy, is to place the whole system on a sound financial basis, by turning prison labor into money—to make the prisoners pay for their maintenance while at the same time engaging in occupations likely to be useful to them when they attain their liberty. The new system is based upon the principles of modem .penal science aa these principles' are expressed in the most efficient penal institutions throughout the world. The. provisions of the indeterminate sentence are extended and made' applicable to all proper cases, release of a prisoner to. whom the indeterminate sentence has been applied depending on •himself. The power 6t release may be exercised in any case except that of a person convicted of a crime punishable by hard labor for life. The determinate sentence will still be retained in all proper cases. Provision is made for the iollowing institutions in connection with the scheme:—Penitentiaries for male prisoners; an institution for sexual perverts and criminals of unsound mind; an institution for inconrigiDle drunkards; prison camps; a reformatory farm; and a penitentiary and reformatory for women. Also, by requisitioning the iaid : of private agencies, provision is made for extension oi the probation system and dealing with occasional and habitual drunkards. PrivilegeSj which may be gained only by industry and moral improvement, are placed within the attainment of prisoners. . The standard of effort must compare favorably with that of the free laborer, the hope.of tlis reward, of release, being the main stimulus to improvement. Prisoners are to be classified upon a double basis-'-firstly, as to type; secondly, as to Conduct ami improvement, and they wiil be distributed according to classification amongst the various institutions provided for the iollowing classes:—Professional criminals; sexual perverts; criminals of unsound mind; drunkards; incipient and pseudo criminals; corrigible criminals; the rest of the criminal class. Femains will be classified according to type as follows:—lncorrigible; corrigible; incipient and pseudo criminals; and criminals of unsound mind. It is intended to employ all physically capable men on remunerative works, the industries suggested being s'tonemasonrv. ironmoulding, tinware, makinor book covers and boot-making, the product of their . labor being utilised by the public departments and not competing with the outside market. Education, up to fourth standard requirements, is to be provided for illiterates. The prison camp system is to be considerably extended in various other directions besides tree-planting. Amongst the most interesting of the new proposals are those dealing with the treatment of drunkards oi all degrees. DruiiKarrts are to be classified in four degrees, ranging from "casuals," who get drunk at rare intervals, to "incorrigibles," who, besides being habitual drunkards, combine minor offences with their drunkenness.' "Casuals" will be dealt with bv fining, but "occasionals" and "habituals" are admitted to a specified form of probation. The former are committed by the Magistrate to the custody of a Pro bation Officer, whose duty it is to see •that his charge. reports himself every evening not later than a prescribed hour at the institution of which the Probation Officer has charge. The offender .remains in the institution all night, and leaves after breakfast in the morning, provided that he has occupation to go to. His wages are not paid to himself j but to his wife or a receiving officer, as the Magistrate thinks fit and directs. The first charge against his wages is for the cost of his board and lodging at the institution. As the offender gains the confidence of the Probation Officer and proves himself worthy of trust, the officer has power to report to the Magistrate that his charge is worthy of a relaxation oi disciplinary oversight, and, authority being given, he may allow the offender to sleep at his own home on one or more specified nights in the week. If this privilege is abused, the Probationary Officer can summarily withKbld it. reporting his action as soon as possible to the Magistrate for endorsement. An habitual drunkard is admitted to a term of probation under more stringent regulations. He is committed to the Probation Officer, who keeps him >n close detention, giving him only such liberty as he may deem expedient, submitting tp the Magistrate a report of the conditions of the form of detention imposed. The Magistrate will endorse the report or otherwise, according to his discretion. Incorrigible drunkards are committed to imprisonment in a State inebriate institution. This institution is for the detention, of persons who are convicted oi minor crimes which are in themselves the result of excessive drinking, such persons being considered unsuitable for detention under probationary discipline. The instituton s in all respects a prison camp, except that this, one class of offenders is alone committed to it. The purpose in sentencing prisoners to this institution is that they may be enabled to break the habit of inebriacv, recover their bodily health and strength, and cultivate habits of sustained industry. To accom

plish this, industries are established which provide for as much outdoor work as possible. Vegetable-growing, fruitgrowing, and some of the lighter branches of farming are the industries best suited- for this -purpose. It is necessary that a period of not less than twelve months should be spent under this discipline, and, when release is granted, the .period of parole should be for a similar term. There are many other up-to-date proposals in connection with the reform scheme, but enough has been outlined here to indicate the lines on which it is proposed to proceed. So far as possible the existing institutions will be utilised, but the cost of maintenance will mo longer, if the -reform system proves a success, be a heavy irrecoverable tax on' the people of the Dominion.