Periodic Detention Centres in New Zealand
| Author | D.T. Jenkins |
| Date | 01 September 1969 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455056901500307 |
| Published date | 01 September 1969 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
94
off
drugs
for
a
period
of
six
months
or
more,
and
for
some,
merely
keeping
out
of
trouble
with
the
law.
During
the
time
we
have
been
treating
this
group
of
patients
we
have
had
through
our
hands
approximately
250
patients
with
a
drug
problem,
although
not
necessarily
totally
addicted.
Of
these
250
over
100
have
been
addicted
to
the
opiate
drugs,
of
whom
13
did
not
stay
for
treatment
for
very
long
and
must
be
discounted;
six
are
in
prison,
three
have
died
and
some
47
have
been
off
drugs
for
six
months
or
more.
Sixteen
are
currently
under
treatment
and
we
have
lost
contact
with
a
few
others.
Of
those
using
amphetamines
we
do
not
have
as
many
drug
free
patients
as
we
would
wish.
Some
have
gone
off
to
other
areas
of
the
country,
some
to
prison,
and
50
or
so
are
still
with
us.
The
whereabouts
of
the
remainder
is
unknown.
Unfortunately
there
is
a
nourishing
black
market
in
central
nervous
stimulant
drugs
and
there
are
still
some
members
of
the
medical
profession
who
prescribe
for
a
fee.
This
tends
to
undermine
some
of
our
work.
However,
we
can
say
that
all
the
patients
who
have
remained
with
us
either
on
or
off
drugs
for
any
length
of
time
have
improved
their
social
functioning
beyond
recognition.
In
1965
when
we
first
started
treating
patients
they
were
typically
dirty,
scruffy,
long-haired
and
badly
behaved.
Now,
if
one
meets
such
an
individual
within
the
city
of
Birmingham
the
possibilities
are
that
he
is
not
a
drug
addict
but
a
university
student!
We
consider
this
success,
but
it
will
be
up
to
posterity
to
judge.
PERIODIC
DETENTION
CENTRES
IN
NEW
ZEALAND
D. T.
Jenkins
Justice
of
the
Peace in
the
County
of
Kent
CONCERNED
at
the
gap
existing
between
probation
and
borstal,
the
Minister
for
Justice
of
New
Zealand
conceived
the
idea
of
a
periodic
detention
centre
for
offenders
of the
age
group
15/20
years,
where
they
could
be
saved
from
a
conviction
and
be
made
to
work
off
their
debt
to
the
community
in
their
spare
time
and
still
have
to
earn
their
own
living.
The
first
centre
was
established
in
Auckland
in
August
1963,
and
three
further
centres
were
started
in
other
areas.
The
centre
is
administered
by
the
Probation
Department.
The
warden
is
responsible
for
its
day-to-day
running,
and
through
the
district
probation
officer,
to
the
Secretary
for
Justice
who,
to
gain
public
co-operation
in
social
reforms,
appoints
an
Advisory
Committee
from
a
cross-section
of
the
com-
munity.
The
committee
is
chaired
by
the
senior
magistrate,
includes
the
district
probation
officer
and
warden,
and
meeting
at
the
centre
as
necessary,
-
can
give
on-the-spot
decisions,
or
make
recommendations
to
head
office.
The
staff
is
small
but
of
extremely
high
character
and
quality,
and
consists
of
warden,
matron
and
deputy
warden.
Salaries
are
commensurate
with
outside
higher
managerial
posts.
Each
centre
in
a
measure
takes
on
a
character
of
its
own,
influenced
by
local
conditions
and
demands
and
the
personality
of
the
warden,
who
must
be
a
first-class
administrator,
a
firm
but
fair
disciplinarian,
a
~leader,
guide,
counsellor
and
friend,
who
can
command
respect
and
implicit
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