PROBATION OFFICERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1926, Page 8

PROBATION OFFICERS.

The growth in the number of cases in which probation is permitted by the Courts, and the official statistics which show that a comparatively small number of probationers again lapse into crime, are proof that the probationary system has been a wise addition to the Dominion’s methods of dealing with convicted persons. By no means the smallest part of the success of the system has been due to those who have held the responsible position of probationery officer. In many cases the position has been held by those who have had a number of other duties to perform besides those in connection with the supervision of probationers, but, on the whole, the results have been good. Probably they will be the first to maintain that with the granting of- probation continually being extended by judges, and in the light of experience, the time has arrived for some improvement in the working of the system, and it is not surprising that the Justice Department is proposing to overhaul it somewhat. There are to be four probation districts established throughout the Dominion, each with a special fulltime officer in charge. The headquarters of each district will be one of the four chief cities. In addition committees of social workers are to be set up, which will be associated with the probation officer for the supervision of certain cases. It is hoped by this means to lessen any tendency to mere bureaucratic control, and to maintain that personal touch with probationers which so often is the deciding factor in their reformation or relapse into crime. Naturally, it will bis essential that those chosen for this voluntary work must be carefully selected. They will have difficult, and sometimes intractable cases to deal with among the probationers, and they must be able to work in harmony with the probation officer who is the representative of the Department of Justice. Fortunately, experience of the goodwill with which such work has been undertaken by social workers is proof that the community possesses ample material upon which to draw for the proposed committees. Their work and that of the official probation officers is sure to be keenly scrutinised. If by the proposed amendments the probation system increases the numbers reclaimed from crime, and acts as a deterrent to those who might otherwise lapse, it will be more than justified.