Juicy carrot for prisoners alarming suggestion – McVicar

The Conservative Party Justice Spokesman, Garth McVicar says the public will be alarmed to learn that the only tool the Corrections Department has available to get prisoners to behave is to offer them a juicy carrot.

McVicar was commenting after Corrections Association's Beven Hanlon said parole is a juicy carrot for prisoners, and often the only tool which can get them to behave once they're jailed.

Hanlon is critical of the Conservative Party proposal to overhaul the parole system and abolish parole for all offenders serving two year sentences or longer, but McVicar said Hanlon seems totally out of step with public opinion. For full story:http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbnat/1866121595-little-support-for-conservatives--plan-to-abolish-parole

“I have had overwhelming support for the Conservatives proposal to overhaul the Parole system and find it extremely disappointing that Corrections Association seems to have forgotten that two of the primary purposes of prison is public protection and punishment.”

“If our Correctional institutions have become so dysfunctional the only way inmates can be managed is by offering ‘juicy carrots’ it appears more than just the parole system that needs an overhaul.”

“Following our announcement on parole yesterday I am now receiving information from both inmates and Corrections staff that Gangs are using intimidation and stand-over tactics within the prisons to recruit new members.”

“I would suggest Beven Hanlon would be better to utilise his role with the Corrections Association to exposing and fixing the gang problem within the prisons than offering juicy carrots to get inmates to behave.”

“I am sure the public will be alarmed to learn the only tool the Corrections Department has to manage prisoners is to offer them a juicy carrot.”

“I look forward to being in a position after the Election to having an in-depth look at how management of prisoners is really happening, the inside information we are receiving is that the gangs are virtually running the prisons and using them as recruitment centres where stand-over tactics and intimidation is rife.

On current polling McVicar who is ranked No 3 on the Conservative Party list and also its candidate for the Napier Electorate McVicar will be going to Parliament.

ENDS

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