XN000022-1983-03-23 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983

DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE ON DELINQUENCY PROPOSED

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AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CALLED TODAY FOR A CENTRALISED DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE TO CLASSIFY THE TRUE DELINQUENT ELEMENTS FROM THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED OF CARE

AND PROTECTION.

THE CENTRE SHOULD INCLUDE THE EXPERTISE OF THE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, SAID THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT,

MISS BENNETT WAS COMMENTING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF USING THE EXISTING RESOURCES WISELY AND BEING SENSITIVE TO THE WASTAGE THAT OCCURS WHEN TWO INSTITUTIONS OR DEPARTMENTS OVERLAP IN THEIR SERVICES+.

MISS BENNETT SAID BOTH THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS RUN INSTITUTIONS FOR OFFENDERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

HOWEVER, SHE FELT THAT THERE WAS NEED FOR FAR CLOSER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE PROPER USE OF MANPOWER AND THE OPTIMUM USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES IN THE REHABILITATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS HAD THEIR OWN SPECIALIST STAFF WHICH INCLUDED PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO HAD SPECIAL AIMS IN ASSESSING THE YOUNG PEOPLE REFERRED TO THEM, SHE SAID.

BUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR WORK IN BOTH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS STILL IN FAIRLY EARLY STAGES.

FOR EXAMPLE, SHE SAID, VERY LITTLE WAS BEING DONE TO ASSESS THE REASONS FOR CHILDREN BEING SLOW IN LEARNING AND BACKWARD AT THEIR LESSONS.

+TOO OFTEN THOSE CHILDREN CONSIDERED TO BE SLOW LEARNERS DEVELOP CRIMINAL TENDENCIES AND GET BROUGHT BEFORE THE JUVENILE COURTS, SHE SAID.

+ IN FACT THEIR INTELLIGENCE IS NOT BELOW AVERAGE AND THEY FAIL TO DEVOTE THEIR ENERGY TO THEIR SCHOOL WORK AND

INSTEAD GET INTO MISCHIEF, SOMETIMES OF A VERY SERIOUS NATURE.

+WE SEEM INDEED TO BE BREEDING CRIMINALS BY FAILING TO ASSESS ADEQUATELY THESE YOUNGSTERS AND THOSE ALREADY IN THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. +

IN CALLING FOR A BETTER ASSESSMENT SYSTEM, MISS BENNETT SUGGESTED THAT THE PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD LIAISE TOGETHER SO AS TO ASSESS THOSE YOUNGSTERS REFERRED BY THE COURTS, THE SCHOOLS AND WELFARE AGENCIES.

+ONCE ASSESSED EFFECTIVELY THE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE FITTED INTO THE CORRECT SPECIAL PROGRAMMES WHICH WILL BRING ABOUT THE IR DEVELOPMENT TO FULL MATURITY AND REHABILITATION.