UnitedFuture believes that strong local communities are the building blocks of a successful nation. For this reason we will work to ensure that New Zealand communities are safe and considerate places where one can confidently raise a family free from the threat of violence and property damage or loss.

We believe that focusing on the causes of crime and having a restorative approach to justice will reduce the crime rate.

Target causes of crime by reducing social harms:  

Crime prevented through social investment and a fair society

• Increase resources for mental health to ensure that those who may pose a risk to others or themselves are adequately assessed and treated (refer our mental health policies);
• Address housing crisis Provide housing, including social and community (refer our rent to buy policy);
• Reduce barriers to learning with free tertiary education and fairer living costs (refer our tertiary education policy);
• Continue to change government approach to drug s into primarily a health issue with focus on treatment and market regulation (refer our drug reform policy);
• Ensure sufficient drug and alcohol addiction services are available;
• Support and invest in community led initiatives that focus on preventing harm including Maori-led programmes.

Early invention for youth;

UnitedFuture strongly believes in the theory of having ‘a fence at the top of the cliff rather than an ambulance at the bottom’ when it comes to dealing with young offenders or at-risk youth.

• Expand the Social Workers in Schools Programme beyond decile 1-3 schools;
• Resource alternative education providers to work with at-risk youth who have dropped out of mainstream schooling;
• Ensure that schools implement anti-bullying strategies, safe classroom programmes and policies in consultation with the police and other agencies;
• Increase funding for appropriate early intervention supervision and diversionary programmes for youth at risk;
• Establish links with the business community to mentor and support at risk young people;
• Foster co-operation and information sharing between police, courts, schools, community groups and social services when dealing with at-risk families and youth.

Effective courts and sentencing

Smooth running of our court, prison and probation systems is crucial if we are to successfully manage the implementation of justice in New Zealand.

• Prioritise and expand restorative justice programmes as a priority response;
• Repeal Three Strikes Law
• Actively promote non-judicial case resolution (mediation or arbitration) for civil cases, making it a compulsory first step prior to court action;
• Support alternative and specialist courts (like drug courts);
• Ensure cases are heard in a timely manner, including ensuring sufficient funding for analysis of evidence;
• Improve co-operation between New Zealand and Australia to manage citizens that commit crime overseas, including notification at sentencing, and legislative co-operation to ensure that parole and post-sentencing regimes may be enforced on repatriated nationals;
• Monitor, review and update the Department of Correction’s Transgender Prisoner policy to reflect international best practice about placement, care and management of trans prisoners to ensure their right to safety, and access to health services and rehabilitation on an equal basis as others.

Reducing recidivism

The vast majority of inmates in New Zealand prisons are repeat offenders or are future repeat offenders. UnitedFuture is committed to reduce the rate of recidivism. This does not mean that we are soft on crime, rather, we want to stop more crime from being committed.

• Make drug and alcohol rehabilitation courses available for inmates who have been identified with drug or alcohol addictions;
• Make literacy programmes available for those inmates who have been identified as having difficulty with reading and writing, in an effort to more successfully integrate inmates back into society upon release;
• Ensure that prison inmates are provided with co-ordinated re-integration services upon release, including stricter supervision regimes, mandatory drug-testing and drug treatment options, mandatory community work for those without paid work, and access to suitable and stable accommodation, with accountability mechanisms for enforcement failures;
• Make suitable employment and accommodation integral components of the parole process.