Downtown Community Ministry - Bulletin - 25 October 2006

Rethinking Crime and Punishment

A three year project between The Salvation Army and Prison Fellowship New Zealand is launched tomorrow with the goal of establishing a more rehabilitative and restorative prison policy in New Zealand.

The launch of ‘Rethinking Crime and Punishment’ is being hosted by Minister of Justice Hon. Mark Burton and the Minister of Corrections Hon. Damien O’Connor in Parliament’s grand hall.

Downtown Community Ministry Director Stephanie McIntyre says, “the project continues the significant work of the Salvation Army and Prison Fellowship towards building a more effective criminal justice and prison system”.

The project will be managed by Prison Fellowship National Director Kim Workman and co lead by Major Campbell Roberts Director for the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit of the Salvation Army.

It is designed to inform the public of alternative punishments like Restorative Justice and community penalties. Establish positive relationships between the public and the prison/criminal justice sector and contribute to developing policy with a focus on alternatives to prison.

Mr Workman and Major Roberts hope the campaign will “lead to a safer New Zealand where people who offend, face their crime, and are then given the chance to rehabilitate and be restored as participating members of the wider New Zealand community”.

A reference group to support and advise the project includes the Rt Revd Sir Paul Reeves; Michael Smith, CEO of CARITAS; and, Celia Lashlie among others.

ENDS

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