XN000022-1979-07-15 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, JULY 15, 1979

ON THE PROBATIONERS' AND INMATES' FAMILY BACKGROUND, THE REPORT LINKED RE-CONVICTION WITH THE SIZE OF THE IR FAMILIES AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN.

IT POINTED OUT THOSE FROM LARGE FAMILIES ARE LESS LIKELY TO GO BACK TO CRIME. RECIDIVISM RATES OF THOSE WITH A FAMILY OF THREE IS 30.8 PER CENT OF FOUR 20.5 PER CENT OF SEVEN 15.3 PER CENT AND OF NINE 14 PER CENT.

THE REPORT STRESSED THAT PROBATIONERS AND INMATES WHO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PARENTS AND WHO GET ADEQUATE ATTENTION ARE LESS VULNERABLE TO FALL BACK TO CRIME.

SIMILARLY, THOSE WHO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH PROBATION OFFICERS HAVE A BETTER SUCCESS RATE.

THE REPORT CONCLUDED THAT +REASONABLE PARENTAL CONTROL OVER CHILDREN IS FAR BETTER THAN LOOSE OR STRICT DISCIPLINE.

COMMENTING ON THE 85.9 PER CENT SUCCESS RATE, MR. CARLOS LEUNG, DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (YAU MA TEI-MONG KOK), SA ID IT WAS INDEED VERY ENCOURAGING BUT CERTAINLY THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY ON THE PART OF PROBATION OFFICERS,+

+PUTTING YOUNG AND MINOR OFFENDERS ON PROBATION IS IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF REHABILITATING OFFENDERS.

+THIS METHOD IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BECAUSE IT IS MORE ECONOMICAL THAN INSTITUTIONAL CARE AND FURTHERMORE, PROBATIONERS DO NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE PRISON STIGMA, HE ADDED.

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