Minister to visit USA for justice meetings
Hon Judith Collins
Minister of Justice
14 October 2012
Media Statement
Minister to visit USA for justice meetings
Justice Minister Judith Collins
departs today for a week-long visit to the United States of
America where she will discuss a range of justice policy
issues with her counterparts there.
Ms Collins’
visit will include meetings with the US Attorney
General, Eric H. Holder, Jr., who heads the Department of
Justice, and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security, Janet Napolitano, who visited New Zealand earlier
this year.
Ms Collins will visit Adult Drug Courts
and hold discussions on policies designed to combat drug
offences with the FBI and police officials, including
Commissioner Raymond Kelly of the New York Police
Department.
“There is no doubt that alcohol and drugs
are a problem for many communities in New Zealand, and where
it results in crime it is important we take action. I am
interested in seeing how the US Courts operate and how
effective they are in dealing with addiction problems
there.”
Ms Collins will meet with leading US
family dispute resolution specialists, and examine
strategies to improve the administration of justice across
the public and community sectors.
Ms Collins will also
meet with experts on privacy and addressing the problems
caused by cybercrime and cyber-bullying.
“The
Government is currently considering its response to the Law
Commission’s recent report on harmful digital
communications. I am keen to understand how cyber-bullying
is addressed in other jurisdictions,” Ms Collins
says.
Ms Collins will also lay a wreath at the Vietnam
War Memorial and will visit Arlington National Cemetery in
Washington, DC, and tour the 9/11 Memorial in New
York.
ENDS