United Future
Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 314

BLOG: BALANCING THE SCALES OF JUSTICE

Posted in Discussion Forum at 09:02AM, 24 Sep 2009 ∞ Permalink

Over the weekend we saw once more the awful effect that violent crime has on its victims and their families. I am referring, of course, to the Sensible Sentencing meeting where the justice system was symbolically put on trial and unanimously found guilty of failing the victims of crime.

I have always held more than a passing interest in the work of Sensible Sentencing, which, on the whole has made a valuable contribution to the debate about crime and punishment, even if sometimes it goes too far. My instinctive reaction to some of the weekend’s comments about the treatment that should be meted out to violent offenders left me feeling that way, and wondering just how long it would be before Sensible Sentencing goes way out on a limb and starts actively promoting capital punishment.
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Robin Gunston
Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 14

Posted at 09:02AM, 24 Sep 2009 ∞ Permalink

It is amazing in a nation as progressive as NZ has been in its short history that it is so behind in its attitudes to restorative justice and the benefits to both victims and offenders. Prison Fellowship is a leader in this field internationally and within NZ but we fail to be able to get any substantive engagement with Corrections and the Ministry of Justice on delivering far more extensive restorative justice programmes that would be so beneficial to all concerned. For many prisoners "in sentence" RJ programmes are a key component of beginning their rehabilitative and restorative journeys.

It pains us to see murder victims suffer, but we know from many years of practical experience that RJ programmes and processes can help them immensely. At the right time, before they further punish themselves with remorse we would urge these victims to avail themselves of a RJ programme.

Sensible Sentencing Trust is one of the major reasons NZ now has a crisis on its prisons, for which those of us who are key providers to the sector can see any credible end to. Few thinking people are challenging the societal cost of having such high prison numbers and this Government has determined that so called "public safety", whatever that means, is the paramount factor behind its justice reforms.

UnitedFuture's position consistently looks for that middle ground in justice, it now needs to turn those policies into becoming those that the Government adopts, or all precepts of NZ being a decent society are doomed.

Robin Gunston
Prison Fellowship New ZEaland

Damian Light
Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 36

Posted at 10:48AM, 27 Sep 2009 ∞ Permalink

__We have to focus as strongly on reducing, if not eliminating, the causes of violent crime, and providing decent rehabilitation opportunities for those sufficiently well-motivated to try to turn the corner.__

Another good blog Peter - 'solving' crime is a complicated matter, especially when you include the victims and the causes of crime. It easier to simply hand out tough sentences and punish people, but that doesn't really achieve anything. Some criminals might be beyond help and should be locked away, but its too easy to group all criminals together and we lose the ability to help those that we can.

Justice is for everyone and doesn't have to mean locking everyone away forever.

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