30th July 2007

Watchdog Applauds Tagging Sentence

Christchurch has just witnessed the consequence to snubbing your nose at justice.

Judge Jane Farish has sentenced a 19 year old to six months jail and an order was made for reparation of $600.00 for his repeat offending and non attendance to community based work as originally sentenced.

"Today there are consequences," she told the teenager. "The option for the court is to remove you from society."

Leah Matena, Christchurch Spokesperson for the Sensible Sentencing Trust, says “Well done, it is about time consequences are enforced for bad choices made. Community based sentences are not always appropriate or work, and could also put the public at further risk, as this was the case here”.

“He was too lazy to comply with the original sentence of community work saying it was too early on a Saturday to get out of bed – Welcome to the real world!!”

“The offending continued after the original sentencing, showing both contempt and a lack of respect for authority”.

“If there us to be a zero tolerance to crime and a strong message to our society that this will not be tolerated, we need to follow through with actions. We as a society have had enough of the ‘softly, softly’ approach taken and this mindless, disrespectful offending must be stopped.”

Ms. Matena said if all judges took the same stance, we may all feel a little safer in our own homes as well as in our communities.

ENDS

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