Hi—2oa.

2

STATISTICS. Table A. —Reformative-detention Cases. Total number sentenced to reformative detention ...... .. .. .. 2,321 Released on recommendation of Board .. .. .. ' .. .. .. 1,629 Discharged from reformatories on completion of full sentence .. .. .. 266 Total number released . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,895 Of whom there were — Returned to reformatories for non-compliance with, conditions of release .. 76 Committed to reformatories for further offences whilst on probation.. .. ] 26 Sentenced for offences committed after discharge or expiry of period of probation 194 Total number returned and recommitted j. ,). I .. .. 396 Absconded and not traced . . .. .. . . .. .. 26 Died .. .. .. .. .. .. f ..-j ... 7 Left Dominion to return to former domiciles .. .. I •_ 1 .. 41 Known to have been killed in action while on active service .. .. 3 Returned to Weraroa.. .. .. .. ... .. .. 1 Transferred to Rotoroa Inebriates Institution .. .. .. .. I Transferred to mental hospitals .. .. .. .. .. 3 Transferred to Mount Magdala Home .. .. .. .. .. 1 Transferred to Salvation Army Home .. .. .. .. .. I Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1923 .. .. .. .'. 128 Number who have not offended since their discharge or expiration of period of probation, and presumably doing well .. .. .. .. 1,287 1,499 1,895 Of the total number released after undergoing reformative detention, 20-9 per cent, have been returned to prison either for non-compliance with conditions of release or for committing further offences ; 3-5 per cent, have left the Dominion or absconded ; 09 per cent, have died or been transferred to mental hospitals, &c. ; leaving 74-7 per cent, who have not further offended. Table B sets out the habitual criminals dealt with during the same period as that covered by Table A. , < Table 8.-—Habitual Criminals. Total number declared habitual criminals .. .. .. .. .. .... 371 Of whom there were released on recommendation of Board .. .. .... 313 Of whom there were — Returned to prison for non-compliance with conditions of release .. .. 43 Committed to prison for further offences .. .. .. .. .. 98 Sentenced for offences committed after their discharge from prison or from probation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..17 Total number returned .. .. .. .. .. — 158 Absconded and not traced .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Died .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..10 Left Dominion to return to former domiciles .. .. .. .. 40 Transferred to mental hospital .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Transferred to consumptive sanatorium .. .. .. .. .. 1 Reporting on probation at 31st December, 1923 .. .. .. .. 34 Number who have not offended, as far as known, since their discharge from probation and presumably doing well .. ;. .. .. 45 — 155 313 Of the total number of habitual criminals released on probation, 50-5 per cent, were returned to prison either for non-compliance with the conditions of probation or for committing further offences. No offences are recorded against the remaining 49-5 per cent., but our tables show that 3*B per cent, died or were transferred to mental hospitals, while 20-5 per cent, left the Dominion or absconded. This leaves a definite percentage of 25-2 who have remained in the Dominion and have not further offended. Critics of the system have commented adversely upon the fact that our figures regarding habitual criminals show an average of only 25 per cent, of successes. They apparently add the percentage of those who have left the Dominion to return to their country of origin to the percentage of those reconvicted, and assert that the failures amount to 75 per cent, of the total. There is no justification for such an assertion. It is probable, of course, that a proportion of the 20 per cent, referred to may offend again in other countries, but we know that many of them do not so offend, and that their change of environment has brought about their rehabilitation.