H.—2OA

Hard Labour. Since the passing of the Statute Law Amendment Act, 1917, which extended the scope of the Prisons Board to the consideration of cases of prisoners sentenced to terms of imprisonment involving hard labour, 5,614 cases have been considered by the Board up to December, 1937. In 2,309 cases the prisoners were released on probation or discharged prior to expiry of the full time on the recommendation of the Board. Of this number, 1,367 completed probation satisfactorily, 125 were recommitted for other offences, and 81 were still reporting on probation at the 31st December, 1937. Habitual Criminals. During the period from January, 1911, to December, 1937, 599 habitual criminals were released on license on the recommendation of the Prisons Board. Of those so released, 54-26 per cent, were returned to prison either for committing further offences or for non-compliance with the conditions of probation. No offences are recorded against the remaining 45-74 per cent., and, allowing for those who have left the Dominion or died, this leaves 23-21 per cent, who remain in the Dominion and have not further offended. Borstal Cases. Since the coming into operation of the Prevention of Crime Act, 1924, 2,434 young persons have been detained under this Act, either by transference of youthful offenders from penal institutions or industrial schools or by original commitments by the Court. There have been 2,277 inmates released on the recommendation of the Board, 2,071 being on probation and 206 on the expiration of their sentence. Of the total number released, 39 have been returned to the institution for noncompliance with the conditions of release, 186 were recommitted for further offences whilst on probation, and 397, or approximately 17 per cent, of the total released, have been sentenced for offences committed after discharge or on expiry of their period of probation.

Approximate Cost of Paper— Preparation, not given ; printing (710 copies), £3 ss.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1938.

I'rice 3d.]

3