17 JANUARY 1925, Page 13

YOUNG OFFENDERS AND HABITUAL CRIMINALS [To the Editor of the

SPECTATOR.]

SIR,—I see in the newspapers several references to the question of allowing first offenders, often young people, to come into contact with habitual criminals, both while in prison on remand and actually on their way to prison in the notorious " Black Maria." A magistrate recently ordered a girl of seventeen to be taken to prison in a cab in order to avoid the usual prison van. I feel that you, Sir, with your interest in prison reform, might allow some light to be thrown on this question in your correspondence cohimns.—I am, Sir, &c.,

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