ACT Justice spokesman Stephen Franks welcomed the launch of a new guidebook today aimed at getting prisoners to switch from crime to work, but warned that there has been a history of failed good intentions in rehabilitating criminals.

“This booklet will do no harm and indeed we must all hope that it works. But you have to ask if it can work under this Government’s crime policy of ‘all carrots and no sticks’.

“Rehabilitation won’t work without a credible threat of realistic punishment as the alternative. That is all that justifies a parole system.

“If criminals are not effectively punished, the excitement of crime, the loot and bad company will win every time over boring work.

“Even when announcing something sensible like this Mr Robson can’t resist pushing his refusal to build the prisons that are needed.

“A credible punishment and rehabilitation policy needs a commitment to compliance and a return to prison for those who breach parole.

“Sadly all the good work and the good intentions are likely to come to nothing because the Government worries mainly about the so-called ‘needs’ of the offender and not the victim,” Mr Franks said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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