Sensible Sentencing approves leniency for first third striker

24th November 2016

Raven Casey Campbell today became the first prisoner to receive a third “strike” under the “three strikes” regime passed into law in 2010. Campbell, whose first two strikes were for robbery and aggravated robbery, indecently assaulted a female prison guard, and was duly convicted of this offence as his third strike. He was sentenced to the maximum seven years in accordance with the law, but allowed to apply for parole.

“Firstly, we totally agree with Justice Toogood’s decision to apply the ‘manifestly unjust’ proviso which means this man will be eligible for parole in two years or so. There is no disputing that the indecent assault he was convicted of was at the lower end of the scale for such offending” said Sensible Sentencing Three Strikes spokesman David Garrett.

“However a couple of things have been somewhat overlooked here – firstly an ominous probation report which says Campbell is a man whose violence is getting worse, and who poses a real risk to the community. Secondly, the fact that his victim was very distressed by the offending, and felt totally degraded. She had been left feeling vulnerable and uneasy when performing her duties” Garrett said.

“The purpose of three strikes is primarily to protect the public by incarcerating individuals who pose a real risk to public safety. The law is designed to prevent the ludicrous situations which occurred in the past, such as Panmure RSA killer William Bell amassing 102 convictions before becoming a triple murderer. Campbell is still near the beginning of his criminal career, but he is clearly a violent man whose violence is getting worse. Three strikes means if he commits another strike offence he will again get the maximum sentence the law provides. He will never get the chance to rack up dozens or a hundred convictions as Bell and others have” Garrett said.

“Is this guy ‘the worst of the worst’? Clearly he is not – yet. But why should someone like this get the chance to go on offending violently until he potentially rapes or kills someone? On two occasions a Judge has warned him of the consequences of his offending. There was no suggestion that he did not understand what he was told by those two judges – but he offended again anyway” said Garrett

“Justice Toogood may well be right that he did not think about those warnings before he committed his latest offence. So what? He has proved that he lacks the control normal people exercise when walking behind a woman. We are quite comfortable with the sentence, but also quite relaxed that he is able to apply for parole. It will be interesting to see if the Parole Board thinks he is as harmless as his lawyer claims him to be” Garrett said.

“In the meantime Campbell will be telling his mates in jail that three strikes is working, and hits hard – especially at stage three. Hopefully that will deter others who are on the same criminal journey as he. If that happens, it is a happy bonus, and no-one will be happier than me” ENDS

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/86818649/seven-years-jail-for-prison-bum-grab

© Scoop Media