Thursday, January 25, 1973
11
There were cases where what the offender deserved was one thing, and
what was most likely to prevent him fron doing it again was another thing.
Prison meant shutting him up with other criminals.
If this confirmed
the offender in a life of crime, it was the very reverse of the probation
service which sought both to keep him out of trouble and protect the public.
Sir Ivo disagreed with the views of some people who wrote letters
to the press saying that to reform the offender was "a soft" alternative to
protecting the public. Instead, it was "the very best way of protecting
the public."
He recalled that during the last three years, he had had some
opportunity of seeing the work of the Probation and Corrections Division of the
Social Welfare Department, and he was convinced its dedicated officers were
playing "a large and significant role" in helping problem children who had
committed some offence, and who, if unchecked and unrestrained, and all too
often neglected, were likely to get into further trouble.
Rehabilitation Of Offenders
He commended these officers, and he assured them of the "support,
trust and confidence of the Judiciary."
Sir Ivo and Lady Rigby were welcomed by Mr. F.K. Li, Director of Social
Welfare; Miss Annie Chan, Assistant Director (Social Work); and Mr. S.M. Lee,
Senior Principal Social Welfare Officer and head of the Probation and Corrections
Division.
In a short speech, Mr. Li said the general objective of the probation
and correctional services should be the protection of society through the
rehabilitation of offenders.
"The interests of the community are best met by eliminating future
delinquency on the part of the offender," he commented.
"The rehabilitation of
the individual is best accomplished by restoring him to a full and rewarding role
in the community."
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