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1932. NEW ZEALAND.

PRISONS DEPARTMENT: PRISONS BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR 1931.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Members op the Board. Hon. Mr. Justice Reed, C.B.E. (President); Sir Donald McGavin, Kt., C.M.G., M.D.(Lond.) ; D. G. A. Cooper, Esq.. 0.8. E. ; John Alexander, Esq., C.M.G. ; Theo. G. Gkay, Esq., M.8., M.P.G.; Mrs. C. A. Fbaer ; and B. L, Dallard, Esq., Controller-General of Prisons.

Sir,— 22nd August, 1932. I have the honour to forward herewith the report of the Prisons Board for the year 1931. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Justice. J. R. Reed, President.

EEPORT OF THE PRISONS BOARD. Foe the Year ended 31st December, 1931. The Board has to report that during the year it visited each of the prisons, prison camps,- and Borstal Institutions in the Dominion. It dealt with a total of 1,514 cases at sixteen meetings held at the various institutions. The following summary gives details of the cases considered and the decisions arrived at:— Cases dealt with. Board's Decisions. Persons undergoing Borstal detention .. 495 Recommended for release on probation .. 563 Persons sentenced to reformative detention 480 Deferred for further consideration .. 800 Persons sentenced to hard labour .. 431 Petitions declined .. .. .. 103 Habitual criminals .. .. .. 79 Recommended for discharge .. .. 36 Habitual offender .. .. .. 1 Discharged from probation .. .. 11 Habitual criminals for remission of head Recommended remission of head sentence sentence .. .. .. ■. 2 Modification of terms of probation .. 1 Probationers under Crimes Amendment Act 8 Probationers under Offenders Probation Act 18 1,514 1,514 A brief review of the operations of the Board during the past year shows that, as heretofore, the results on the whole are satisfactory. There has been an increase in the number of cases reviewed by the Board. The number released after serving terms of Borstal detention, and sentences of reformative detention or imprisonment with hard labour, who have been reconvicted or failed to comply with the conditions of their release is approximately 20 per cent. Of the habitual criminals