XN000022-1974-08-17 — Page 4

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1974

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+DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW, A TOTAL OF 39 INMATES WAS GRANTED HOME LEAVE AND ONLY ONE OF THEM HAD ABUSED THIS PRIVILEGE BY NOT RETURNING. HOWEVER, SHE WAS RECAPTURED AFTER BEING AT LARGE FOR 18 KONTIS,+ MISS RAUCHTOLI REPORTED.

THE REVIEW ALSO SAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF OFFENCES THE GIRLS HAD COMMITTED PRIOR TO BEING SENT TO THE TRAINING CENTRE WAS CLASSIFIED AS BEING AGAINST PROPERTY, 1.E. THEFT, ROBBERY AND SIMPLE LARCENY. THE OTHERS INCLUDED OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC KORALITY, ASSAULT, POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND BREACH OF PROBATION.

OF THE 78 GIRLS WHO HAD BEEN DETAINED, 30 HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN UNDER COURT SUPERVISION OR UNDER THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE REVIEW REPORTED.

IT POINTED OUT THAT EXCEPT FOR THE YEAR 1969, THE MEAN AGES OF THE INMATES HAD REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSTANT, RANGING FROM 16.5 IN 1970 TO 16.29 IN 1973.

ABOUT HALF THE GIRLS HAD LEFT HOME PRIOR TO BEING SENTENCED TO THE CENTRE AND 23 PER CENT VERE DESCRIBED BY THEIR FAMILIES AS BEING COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. OVER 50 PER CENT CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.

MISS HAUGHTON NOTED THAT MOST OF THE INMATES WHO COMMITTED DISCIPLINARY OFFENCES DID SO IN THE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY AFTER ADMISSION WHEN THEY WERE STILL IN AN UNSETTLED STATE. +BUT MISCEHAVIOUR TAPERS OFF RAPIDLY AS THE TRAINEES ACQUIRE A MEASURE OF SELF-CONTROL,+ SHE ADDED.

IN 1971, FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF AN ASSISTANT OFFICER DURING AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT, FIVE GIRLS VORE CHANCED WITH MURDER AND AS A RESULT, THREE OF THEM WERE FOUND GUILTY AND WERE TRANSFERRED TO PRISON.

ONE OTHER INMATE WHO COMMITTED A SERIOUS ASSUALT WAS ALSO TRANSFERRED TO PRISON THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

OVER 70 PER CENT OF THE 78 GIRLS HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL STANDARD OF PRIMARY FOUR OR BELOW AND THIS TOGETHER WITH A LACK OF SALEABLE SKILLS ON THEIR PART HAD MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE AFTERCARE OFFICERS TO HELP THEM +SECURE MEANINGFUL AND FINANCIALLY REUARDING EMPLOYMENT.+

+THE FACT THAT OVER 50 PER CENT OF THE TRAINEES STATED ON RECEPTION THAT THEY WERE WORKING AS DANCE HALL KOSTESSES PRESENTS AN ADDED CHALLENGE FOR THE AFTER-CARE OFFICERS,+ MISS HAUGHTON POINTED OUT.

OF THE 48 DISCHARGED DURING THIS PERIOD, 35 BECAME FACTORY WORKERS.

/AFTERCARE