XN000022-1986-05-28 — Page 37

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1986

IPL

35

PROBATION SERVICE FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS A SUCCESS

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MORE YOUNG OFFENDERS UNDER 21 ARE BEING PLACED ON PROBATION BY THE COURTS TO HELP THEM TURN OVER A NEW LEAF WITHOUT THE STIGMA OF A CUSTODIAL SENTENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF VICTORIA, SHE SAID THAT IN 1979-80 THE NUMBER OF SUCH PROBATION CASES WAS 1 487, AND THIS HAD RISEN TO 2 052 IN 1984-85.

+ A RECENT STUDY CONDUCTED BY MY DEPARTMENT INDICATES THAT A SUCCESS RATE OF 82.2 PER CENT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS. THE SUCCESS RATE WAS CALCULATED ON THE BASIS THAT THE OFFENDER WAS NOT RECONVICTED DURING THE PROBATION PERIOD AND THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD AFTER THE EXPIRY OF THE PROBATION ORDER,+ SHE SAID.

PREPARING PRE-SENTENCING SOCIAL ENQUIRY REPORTS ON OFFENDERS AND SUPERVISING OFFENDERS SENTENCED ON PROBATION WERE TWO MAJOR ASPECTS OF PROBATION WORK.

IN 1979-80 THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL ENQUIRY REPORTS PREPARED WAS 3 734, BUT IN 1984-85 THE NUMBER HAD INCREASED TO 4 465.

THESE REPORTS ASSISTED MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES IN SENTENCING, AND IF THEY FOUND PROBATION A FEASIBLE OPTION THEY COULD MAKE A PROBATION ORDER FOR A PERIOD OF ONE TO THREE YEARS.

IF A PROBATIONER FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF A PROBATION ORDER, THE PROBATION OFFICER HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY TO TAKE HIM BACK TO COURT TO ANSWER HIS BREACH OF THE ORDER, IN WHICH CASE HE WAS LIABLE TO MORE SEVERE PUNISHMENT.

A RECENT STUDY OF YOUNG OFFENDERS SHOWED THAT 57.4 PER CENT OF THEM FELL IN THE 14-16 AGE RANGE; THE SEX RATIO WAS EIGHT MALES TO ONE FEMALE: 57.8 PER CENT OF THEM WERE PUBLIC HOUSING DWELLERS; AND 69.6 PER CENT HAD STUDIED UP TO FORMS 1 TO 3.

THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY YOUNG OFFENDERS WERE THOSE RELATING TO UNDESIRABLE PEER INFLUENCE, VALUE SYSTEM, MOTIVATION IN STUDY, SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP.

A PROBATION OFFICER, LIKE ANY SOCIAL WORKER, MUST DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A CONSTRUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROBATIONER THROUGH WHICH HE COULD ENCOURAGE TRUST AND HENCE EXERCISE INFLUENCE.

/APART FROM