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1933. NEW ZEALAND.

OFFENDERS PROBATION UNDER OFFENDERS PROBATION ACT, 1920, AND CRIMES AMENDMENT ACT, 1910 (REPORT ON OPERATION OF), FOR THE YEAR 1932-33.

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

The Hon. the Minister of Justice to His Excellency the Governor-General. Sir, — Wellington, I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Chief Probation Officer on the operations of the Offenders Probation Act for the year ended 31st December, 1932. I have, &c. John G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice.

The Chief Probation Officer to the Hon. the Minister of Justice. Sir, — I have the honour to present my annual report on the working of the probation system under the Offenders Probation Act and the Crimes Amendment Act for the year ended 31st December, 1932. I append also statistical tables summarizing the results of the year's operations, and an epitome of the reports from the principal District Probation Officers. The reports from the Probation Officers and the statistics show that despite the conditions generally prevailing, particularly the unemployment difficulties, the results are highly satisfactory in respect of the conduct of the probationers, their response to the probationary conditions imposed, and in regard to the amount of restitution made. The total number of cases dealt with during the year was 2,212, an excess over the previous year of 167. This total is made up of 901 new admissions and 1,309 who were on the register at the beginning of the year. Of the total dealt with, only 209, or approximately 10 per cent., failed to conform to the requirements of their probationary license ; and, in regard to reparation, the total sum of £2,638 15s. lid., representing restitution-moneys and Court costs, was collected from probationers. This amount of reparation exceeds by £210 the sum collected last year. This is quite an achievement considering the circumstances in which the majority of probationers are placed, and is evidence not only of the salutary effects of probation, but also of the patient persistence of the Probation Officers. A total sum of £54,903, representing restitution-moneys and costs of prosecution, has been collected since the inception of the scheme, the greater proportion of which represents reparation to victims of crimes. Although the cash aspect is secondary to the human consideration, this is a positive feature of probation as compared with imprisonment, where the victim receives nothing and the offender becomes a charge on the community. Probation was first adopted in New Zealand in 1886 on the passing of the First Offenders Probation Act. Until the passing of the Offenders Probation Act, 1920, probation was applied exclusively to first offenders, but since the latter Act came into force the admission of any offender to probation has been a matter entirely for the discretion of the Courts.

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