NZ should Follow UK example to Reduce Imprisonment Cost

“The Conservative Minister of Justice, Kenneth Clarke’s plan to reduce the prison population by 3,000, and save $1.2b in the process, should be closely studied by the New Zealand government, ” says Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment, Kim Workman. “Clarke came out in June with the announcement that short prison sentences don’t work – but his latest strategy is far wider than that.”

The UK government has developed a strategy which identifies both short term and long term measures, in response to a 23% cut in the Justice budget, and as a result of the UK Spending Review.

Some of the measures that would work equally well in New Zealand Include: • Diverting more prisoners with mental illness to community health facilities • Speeding up the risk assessment and parole of 1,300 inmates serving indefinite sentences for the public's protection ; • Reducing the use of remand for defendants charged with crimes that would not normally attract a prison sentence. • Recalling released prisoners only for serious breaches of parole rather than technical lapses, as happens now. • Increasing the discount for early guilty pleas

“In the longer term, Kenneth Clarke has made it clear that proper investment in community solutions and mental healthcare, effective working between departments and greater devolution to local service providers and agencies would cut crime and reduce reoffending. That is also certainly the case for New Zealand”.

“Fifty years ago, New Zealand was leading the world in justice reform. It’s time for it to take up that role once again. It sticks in the craw that we are now looking to the UK for leadership in this area.”

Reference: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/20/kenneth-clarke-pledges-cut-prison-population/

ENDS

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