Prisoners get more compo than victims
Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections
Spokesman
7 November 2007
Prisoners get more compo than victims
The Labour Government’s promise that victims of crime would be the winners from its law that allowed prisoners to continue claiming compensation for alleged ill treatment has flopped, says National’s Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.
He is releasing figures which show that of the $91,408.11 in prisoner compensation so far paid into a claims account under Labour’s law, only one victim has made a claim – for $9,500 – while four prisoners have walked away with $32,383.83.
“Labour says it cares about victims but here is a system that is seeing prisoners walk away with almost 80% of the amount paid out.
“Justice Minister Annette King should explain how those figures square with the comments of her predecessor Phil Goff, that the legislation:
- Would ‘restrict compensation for inmates to exceptional cases’.
- Would provide a strong disincentive against any offender who might be encouraged by other payouts to make a claim for themselves.
‘Maximises the prospect that victims will be the beneficiaries’ in those cases where compensation is paid.
“Clearly, rather than benefitting the victims of crime, Labour’s law is still proving to be something of a cash cow for prisoners.
“That law, which Labour has just extended for three years, has also failed to deter inmates from making claims.
“In the past year alone, prisoners have made claims totalling $1.2 million.
“At the current rate of success, prisoners are set to walk away with hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation, while victims will get very little.
“The law is proving to be a flop – for victims, at least.”
Below: answers to parliamentary questions, claims for damages
Answers to written parliamentary questions – Prisoner compo
15111 (2007). Simon Power to the Minister
of Justice (28/8/07): How many victims have made claims
for damages under the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act
2005, and what has been the total amount
claimed?
Justice Minister Mark Burton replied: I
am advised that one victim has claimed for damages. The
total amount claimed was $9500.
15112 (2007).
Simon Power to the Minister of Justice (28/8/07): How
many victims have made claims for damages under the
Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005; how many have
been successful and for how much?
Justice Minister
Mark Burton replied: See the answer to question 15111
(2007). The claim was successful and the claimant received
$9,825.49, being the amount of the prisoner's compensation
payment ($9.500) plus interest accrued.
15113
(2007). Simon Power to the Minister of Justice
(28/8/07): How many inmates who have received
compensation from the Department of Corrections have been
able to keep that money because victim claims for damages
under the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005 have
either been unsuccessful or have not been forthcoming, and
how much was involved in each case?
Justice Minister
Mark Burton replied: I am advised that four former
inmates have received payment from the Victims' Claims Trust
Account. The amounts paid out were $5,073.50, $7,844.56,
$15,245.29 and $4,220.48. None of these cases was subject
to an unsuccessful claim.
15116 (2007). Simon
Power to the Minister of Justice (28/8/07): How much has
been paid into the victims’ claims trust fund so far, and
how many prisoner claims does this represent?
Justice
Minister Mark Burton replied: I am advised that to date
$91,408.11 has been paid into the Victims’ Claims Trust
Account. This total represents nine individual compensation
awards to prisoners. A further $23,000, representing two
prisoner compensation awards, is being held in the
Victims’ Claims Cheque Account. Once any outstanding
reparation and/or fees owing have been deducted, the balance
will be transferred to the Victims’ Claims Trust Account.