Periodic Detention Work Centres (Youth) in New Zealand
| Author | R. E. Gibson |
| Published date | 01 June 1971 |
| Date | 01 June 1971 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/000486587100400204 |
86 AUST. &N.Z. JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY (June, 1971): 4, 2
Centres
Zealand
Periodic
Detention
Work
(Youth) In New
R. E. GIBSON*
Origins
THE Criminal Justice Act of 1954 was
the
product of a comprehensive
review of New Zealand's
penal
policy
and
was a milestone in
the
develop-
ment
of a liberal
and
far-sighted
attitude
towards disposition
and
treatment
of offenders. Concurrently, discussions took place which were to lead to
further
experiments in
penal
treatment.
Effective alternatives to imprison-
ment
were constantly reviewed; in
particular
the
concept of some form of
part-time
imprisonment came
under
close scrutiny. The courts
had
been
concerned for some time
about
the
lack of
alternative
measures existing
between probation
and
borstal
training
when sentencing youths.
The
con-
cept of restitutive work
within
the
community was gradually developed
in conjunction with limited deprivation of freedom. Eventually
the
sentence
of "Periodic Detention" was given full expression as a pioneer
treatment
under
the
initiative
and
direction of Dr. J. L. Robson, Secretary for Justice,
in
1963.
This was
the
first
treatment
of its kind,
and
as
such
has
caused
considerable
interest
and
led to emulation in
other
countries.
Initially,
it
was considered
that
oversight of periodic detention centres
should
be
by a
"sergeant-major
type of person
wth
acapacity for
insight
into
his charges"
and
that
the
sentence should be restricted to single youths
within
the
age group 15-21 years.
Legislation
Early
in
1962,
asurvey of pre-sentence reports prepared
at
Auckland
over a
three-year
period indicated
that
there
was a sufficient
number
of
suitable youths coming before
the
courts in Auckland to make ascheme of
periodic detention feasible.
In
October,
1962,
legislation was introduced
in
the
Criminal Justice Amendment Bill
1962
establishing
the
sentence of
periodic detention.
The
measure became effective as from 28November,
1962.
As originally introduced,
the
scheme was applicable only to persons
not
less
than
15
and
under
21 years of ago who were convicted of
any
offence punishable by imprisonment
(s.9(1).t
Asubsequent
amendment
*R. E. Gibson, B.A., Dip.Soc.Sci., Dip.Ed., Research Officer, Justice Department,
Wellington, New Zealand.
tAll section references refer: Criminal
Justice
Amentment
Act
1962; also Criminal
Justice
Amendment
Act 1966, Criminal
Justice
Amendment Act 1967.
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