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Archived Press Releases 2009 20th September 2009

THREE STRIKES AND YOU’RE OUT TOP OF LIST FOR VICTIMS

(20th September 2009)

A collective demand was made today by victims of the country’s worst violent crimes that the Government adopt a private member’s bill which keeps repeat violent offenders behind bars.

The “Three Strikes And You’re Out” bill put forward by David Garrett aims to keep career criminals in prison after their third violent offence.

Current legislation does not see offenders given maximum sentences for repeat violent crimes. Under the proposed bill after their third violent offence a judge would have no option but to give a mandatory sentence of 25 years.

“It’s ridiculous that an offender’s slate is wiped clean after their sentence ends and there is no added penalty down the track if they reoffend, which as we all know they mostly do. This bill would force judges to warn criminals after their second offence that they were on their final warning,” said Sensible Sentencing Trust Spokesman, Garth McVicar.

Victims and the Trust want to see an end to what they say is the ‘recycling’ of criminals who simply walk out of prison, reoffend, then go back in with another pathetically short sentence.

The move to support the bill was made by victims at the fifth annual conference of the Sensible Sentencing Trust in Taupo this weekend.

More than 100 of the country’s most high profile victims gathered to talk about changes they wanted to see made in the justice system. In addition to supporting the Bill, they also want the Government to commit to:

• Ending concurrent sentencing
• Life to mean Life
• Working toward ending all parole before the end of an offender’s sentence

“This may seem like a big ask but all of these people have lost someone dear to them in the most brutal way, and then have gone looking for justice in a place we call the justice system and been bitterly disappointed. In that context these demands are entirely reasonable.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.