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all Borstal parolees. Women Salvation Army officers are appointed as Probation Officers for women at other towns. There is "a grand total of 230 officials, exclusive of the Borstal Association and Voluntary Probation Committee members, engaged in probation work. The Crimes Amendment Act statistics, which deal with parole probationers —those persons who have been released on the recommendation of the Prisons Board after serving a term of imprisonment or detention —show that 428 persons were released on probation during the year, 3 of these were recommitted to prison for a breach of the conditions of their license, and 26, including 6 habitual criminals, had their license cancelled for further offences. Considering the difficulties that in the majority of cases beset discharged prisoners in the rehabilitating of themselves, this small percentage of failures must be regarded as satisfactory. The effectiveness of the present method of parole and after-care may be judged from the fact that during the five years ended 31st December last, 1,788 prisoners (excluding habitual criminals) were released on probation, and during this period only 139, or 7-7 per cent., were returned to prison for failing to comply with the conditions of their release or for other offences whilst on probation, and only 22-2 per cent, have again been convicted subsequent to discharge. I desire to place on record the Department's appreciation of the valuable assistance given in this probation work by a large number of public-spirited citizens working with the Voluntary Probation Committees, Prisoners' Aid Societies, and other social-service organizations, for their help to probationers and for their co-operation with Probation Officers. I also desire to record my gratitude to my own staff for their loyal co-operation, and also to the Salvation Army officers, Police officers, and others who act as Probation Officers in a sympathetic and constructive manner. B. L. Dallard, Chief Probation Officer.
REPORTS OF DISTRICT PROBATION OFFICERS. Mr. J. Anbebson, District Probation Officer, Auckland. I have the honour to submit the annual report 011 the probation work at this centre for the period from Ist January, 1936, to 31st December, 1936. At the beginning of the year there were 179 offender probationers on the register, 111 were admitted to probation during the period, and 42 received on transfer, making a total of 332 dealt with. Of that number, 76 completed the term of probation in a satisfactory manner, 64 were transferred to other districts, J was discharged by the Prisons Board, 4 left the Dominion, 2 were sentenced on the original charge, and 15 were before the Court for other offences, leaving 170 probationers on the register at 31st December, 1936. A further two defaulters have to be added to the 17 shown above, as one probationer was convicted of breach of probation and later resumed reporting, while one failed to report and had not been located up to the end of the period. From the foregoing figures the number of defaulters shown is 19, which is approximately 6 per cent, of the number dealt with during the period under review. It may 'be noted that six of the probationers who came before the Court later resumed reporting. This result may be considered very satisfactory indeed. The total amount received as payment in respect of costs of prosecution and restitution was £541 3s. 7d. This amount represents £64 3s. sd. received as costs of prosecution and £477 os. 2a. restitution-moneys. The total is £179 less than the amount collected during the previous period, clue largely to the fact that a smaller aggregate sum was ordered to be paid under these headings. The lack of employment in many cases has a considerable bearing on the payments made. While there are some probationers who are lax in respect of payments and who have to be often reminded ol their obligation in that respect, the majority make a real effort without much compulsion. Whatever view be taken regarding payments, there is 110 doubt that the all-important factor, remunerative employment, largely governs the ability or inability to pay. It can be said of those probationers who have to make restitution that they at least get some grounding in the rudiments of thrift, and, as in a class, some learn more readily than others. Apart from the list of defaulters shown, the majority of probationers were well behaved, showing by their responsive conduct due appreciation of the chance given on probation. While there are still many probationers handicapped by lack of steady employment there has been less trouble in that respect lately. The members of the Probation Committee have done whatever was possible to assist in that respect, and my thanks are due to them for efforts made in that and other directions. The Placement Office here has been instrumental in placing many of the out-of-work probationers in employment of either a temporary or permanent nature, so that there has been less need to call on the good services of the members of the Probation Committee. Probationers on Release from Prison and Borstal Institutions. —At the commencement of the period there were 69 probationers in this class 011 the register, 140 were received on probation from the various Prisons and Institutions, and 10 were received on transfer from other places, making a total number of 219 dealt with. Of that total, 82 completed the term of probation, 44 were transferred to other districts, 6 were discharged bv the Prisons Board, 3 left the Dominion by permission, and 8 were sentenced to terms of imprisonment for offences committed while 011 probation, leaving 72 in this class on the register at 31st December, 1.936.
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