Human Rights Commission
Media Release
7 May 2007

Commission supports victims' right to speak before Parole board

The general right of victims to make oral submissions at Parole Board hearings is under threat by a proposed bill, according to the Human Rights Commission.

"If a victim of a crime chooses to speak at Parole Board hearings, it can help that person see justice done and provide context not always apparent in victim impact statements," said Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Dr Judy McGregor. She was speaking before the Justice and Electoral Committee in Parliament today.

The Committee is considering submissions on the Criminal Justice Reform Bill. The Human Rights Commission submission raised the need for New Zealand law to comply with Commonwealth Best Practice Guidelines on the rights of victims. The relevant guideline states: "Victims must have the right to be heard in private at parole or similar hearings."

If passed Clause 96 of the Bill would only allow oral submissions from victims of crime if the release of an offender posed an undue risk to community safety or was relevant to managing that risk.

Dr McGregor said, "This strays from the human rights standard set out for the Commonwealth. The Human Rights Commission asks that the right of victims to make oral submissions as a general rule be retained".

She said the Commission saw the need to strengthen the rights of victims of crime generally, but also sought greater national clarity on sentencing.

The Commission's submission on the Bill favours the establishment of a Sentencing Council that would set national guidelines for sentencing to ensure consistency throughout the country. The submission also gives qualified support to a proposed hierarchy of sentences because it would create better transparency surrounding the severity and comparability of various sentences.

ENDS

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