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Archived Press Releases 2009 18th July 2009

AMNESTIES FOR PRISONERS ALREADY HAPPENING

(18th July 2009)

New Zealand is already a safe-haven for criminals with the Appeal Court reducing sentences and current Parole policy offering early release, so why do we need amnesties?

The Chief Justice Sian Elias caused a storm by suggesting the use of amnesties to control the prison population, but the Sensible Sentencing Trust says that it is not a novel idea and has been happening for years under current prison policy.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar points out that automatic parole at 2/3 of a sentence was introduced in 1984 and eligibility to parole at 1/3 of a sentence was introduced by the Labour Government in 2002.

"Parole is simply another term for early release, and no matter what politicians and spin-doctors may call it parole has been used as an early release mechanism to reduce the prison population for many years – and the majority reoffend and go back to prison."

"The Chief Justice should be very aware that her idea of giving prisoner amnesties is not novel and has in fact been used for many years with disastrous results."

"Many law-abiding citizens have been raped, maimed or murdered by criminals released under existing amnesty or parole policy."

McVicar said that the Appeal Court had reduced the sentences for some despicable criminals recently. "When one considers that many of these criminals can apply for parole at 1/3 of their reduced sentence it makes an absolute mockery of the current Justice System."

"Criminals must be laughing their heads off, they know that being caught for committing a crime is a gamble worth taking, they also know that being sent to prison nowadays is not very likely and now they have the Chief Judge recommending we give them an amnesty!"

If the Chief Justice is serious about reducing the prison numbers she should be suggesting that all immigrants in prison at present be sent home immediately.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.