XN000022-1980-10-22 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1980

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CALL FOR INVESTIGATION INTO JUVENILE CRIME

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UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE REV THE HON JOYCE M. BENNETT TODAY CALLED FOR A MULTI-PRONG INVESTIGATION INTO THE UPSURGE OF JUVENILE CRIME.

SHE SAID ALTHOUGH THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WAS ASKED TO UNDERTAKE A THOROUGH STUDY OF BOTH THE STATISTICS AND CAUSES OF THE UPSURGE, SHE BELIEVED GREATER DEPTH TO THE ENQUIRY COULD BE ACHIEVED BY THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT'S SOCIAL SERVICE BRANCH WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE AND MAGISTRATES TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL, MISS BENNETT SAID: +LET US NOT COVER UP WITH ELEGANT WORDS THE MEANING OF THIS EXPRESSION JUVENILE DELINQUENCY,

+OUR SOCIETY IS FACED WITH A RISE NOT ONLY OF PICKPOCKETING AND PETTY THIEVING, BUT ALSO WITH AN INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP OF TRIAD SOCIETIES AND CRIMES OF VIOLENCE.

+WE MUST MAKE AN ALL-OUT DETERMINED EFFORT TO DISCOVER THE FACTS BEHIND THESE CRIMES.+

SHE ALSO FELT THAT IT WAS TIME TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE COURTS AND THE NUMBER OF MAGISTRATES DEALING WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS AS SHE WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT MAGISTRATES IN THESE COURTS MAY DEAL WITH UP TO 40 CASES IN ONE DAY.

SHE STATED THAT OUR MAGISTRATES WERE NOT DEALING WITH MACHINES OR ROBOTS, BUT WITH HIGHLY INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN, EACH OF WHOM PRESENTED À COMPLEX FAMILY BACKGROUND.

+THE MAGISTRATE RELIES CONSIDERABLY ON PROBATION OFFICERS FOR THEIR REPORTS ON THE YOUNG OFFENDERS.

+THEY WILL REPORT ON THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL AND THEIR SUITABILITY FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.+

BUT SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBATION SERVICE AT THE END OF MARCH 1980 WAS 30 PER CENT UNDER STRENGTH WITH 27 VACANCIES.

IN A RECENT RECRUITMENT EXERCISE, SHE ADDED, 20 APPLICANTS WERE OFFERED THE POST OF ASSISTANT SOCIAL WORK OFFICERS, BUT ONLY ABOUT TEN ACCEPTED.

+IS MORALE LOW IN THE PROBATION SERVICE AND AMONG THE STAFF IN THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS?

+DO THESE STAFF FIND THEIR TASKS IN THESE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OVERWHELMING AND HOW MANY PSYCHOLOGISTS CAN THEY CALL ON TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN?+ MISS BENNETT ASKED.

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