The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1020. WORK AS A REFORMATIVE AGENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1020. WORK AS A REFORMATIVE AGENT.

The work carried on by the Prisons Department is naturally done under conditions that do not bring it into the limelight, but none the less it should attract considerable attention. That part of Mr. Massey's Budget statement which referred to this Department was of considerable interest, for it disclosed how greatly the functions of this department have expanded, and how vastly the treatment of prisoners now differs from, the system in vogue a generation ago. Under the old order,, hardened criminals were manufactured by a punitive system that was well calculated to drive prisoners to desperation. Under the new order, reformation is the chief object in view, and the character of the department's work has completely changed. In describing this change, Mr. Massey said: "From its former position as a custodian department only—a dead weight upon the taxpayers and a clog upon the life of the State—it has developed into a solid working organisation with a rapidly increasing revenue, and a variety of employment for tjie men committed to its charge, Farming, dairyingjetoek-raising, building in stone, conctete, and wood, road construction, production l of concrete tiles, blocks, posts, etc., and trades of different kinds, provide interesting employment that, while remunerative to the State, is vital in its effect on the character and future lives of the men and youths who have for the time being become the wards of the State. While the prison system has now been thoroughly inoculated with the microbe of work as a reformative agent, the mental and physical development of the inmates has been reoeiving adequate attention."

It will be seen that the kind of work provided for prisoners is mostly of an out-of-door character under circumstances which are favorable to the creation of habits of industry and physical efficiency, as well as likely to result in satisfactory rehabilitation to good citizenship—this, of course, apart from the habitual criminals, most of whom are hopeless from a reforming viewpoint. ,The constitution of the Prisons Board in 1910 was an experiment which has proved of great service. It is the duty of that Board to inquire from time to time (at least once a year) whether there is reasonable cause for belief that any habitual criminal under detention is sufficiently reformed to be released on probation or discharged, and, if so, under what conditions. Under the Act of 1917 the powers of the, Board were enlarged so as to deal with prisoners sentenced to over two years, and to make recommendations for release on probation after half the term had expired. In the eight years (up to 1918) that the Board had been in existence, 1102 persons were sentenced to reformative detention, and 74 per cent, of these were released on the Board's recommendation, while of those released 82 per cent, are known not to have offended again. Out of the 234 habitual criminals, 81 per cent, were released, but 57 per cent, of these relapsed into crime. There can be no question that, with the exception of the hardened criminals, the humane treatment and prospect of early release form a strong incentive to good behaviour, the first step towards reformation, while the habit of work once ingrained is likely to stand them in good stead when regaining their freedom. The department takes the enlightened and sound view that a man is punished by being sent to prison, and that so long as he behaves himself satisfactorily it is not called upon to treat him with unnecessary harshness while in prison. The present system, judged by results, is incomparably superior, both from a moral and an economic point of view. That it is beneficial financially is established by the fact that the total value of prison labor for last year amounted to £81.635, while the. assets of the State have been increased thereby to the extent of fully £60,000 in the past few years. This creditable record bears cjnvincing testimony, not only to the system in vogue, but to the efficient manner to which it is carried out. So well has this system of work as a reformative -agent answered that it has induced the Government to still further stimulate the efforts of prisoners by means of payment for results, so that after deducting from the earnings the cost of maintenance and supervision, the balance will be available for the wives, families, or other closely related dependents upon prisoners prior to their imprisonment. Hitherto these dependents have had to suffer for the sins of the prisoners, and not a, few have become a charge on the charitable aid funds. The payment of reasonable wages on a production basis would, therefore, be a progressive and beneficent step, and one that should be an appreciable factor in making the men efficient workers. The chief aim of the department appears to be directed to the humanitarian work of reclaiming those who have lapsed from the path of rectitude, and this latest development should go a long way to help the erring in regaining their self-respect. Any means designed to eradicate criminal tendencies should be welcomed, and it is therefore gratifying to know that the administration of the Prisons Department and the Prisons Board is calculated to achieve its object. Inevitably there will be failures in some instances, but every prisoner who, on release, sets out to make an honest living and eschews crime is a gain to the State, and it would bo well for the community to recognise this and give a helping hand, if needed.