The Press Friday, August 23, 1957. The Penal... (Press, 23 August 1957)

On 23 August 1957, The Press reported on significant issues facing New Zealand's penal system, highlighted by the Minister of Justice, Mr Marshall, during his Budget speech. The accommodation crisis within the penal establishments is particularly severe, with current capacity being stretched well beyond its limits. Officially, New Zealand's prisons are designed to hold 1,320 inmates; however, this number had risen to 1,500 by August 1957. This overcrowding has led to untenable conditions, such as multiple inmates sharing spaces meant for single occupancy. The report indicates that the implications of such overcrowding extend beyond mere discomfort. It complicates the classification of prisoners into appropriate security levels, thereby hindering the correct management of offenders based on their individual needs. For instance, distinguishing between young and old inmates, as well as separating minor offenders from hardened criminals and segregating homosexual inmates, has become increasingly impractical. The allocated space for Borstal treatment, aimed at rehabilitating young offenders, has also been severely impacted by the shortage of suitable accommodation. The Justice Department has expressed a long-standing desire to implement a more effective approach derived from English penal practices, particularly for young delinquents and those in need of immediate institutional discipline. The inability to establish a dedicated facility for such youth highlights the urgent need for a large-scale building programme within the penal system. Despite having a relatively small number of inmates compared to global standards, the report notes that complacency is unwarranted given the sharp increase in the prison population, which has surged by 31 per cent since August 1955. This rise in numbers is attributed to several factors including the Criminal Justice Act of 1954, which has led to longer sentences, as well as the growing efficiency of the police force in enforcing laws. Furthermore, Mr Marshall has advocated for the Justice Department to take a proactive stance in addressing the root causes of crime, suggesting that the extension of psychological, matrimonial conciliation, and probation services could be beneficial. Such measures are not only necessary to cope with the immediate rise in criminal activity and inmate population but are also critical for modernising New Zealand's penal approach. In summary, the article underscores the pressing issues within New Zealand’s penal system, calling for urgent reforms and expansion of facilities to ensure effective management of the inmate population while simultaneously addressing the underlying social issues contributing to crime rates.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand