Under early legislation absconders were subject to punishment and extension of their sentence.
For example, under the Destitute Persons Act 1881 absconders could be whipped or subjected to a bread and water diet for up to seven days. Under the Maintenance Act 1926 absconding was regarded as an offence and children who absconded could be arrested without warrant by a police officer. Punishment for absconding from an institution or from a foster placement was transfer to a reformatory or the extension of a sentence if the child was already committed to a reformatory.
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The Find & Connect Support Service can help people who lived in orphanages and children's institutions look for their records.
Last updated:
16 January 2023
Cite this: http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/sa/SE00787
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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