Support for Victims

United Future will:

• Establish the portfolio of a Minister for Victims' Rights, to be held as a delegated responsibility of one of the Associate Ministers of Justice, to advocate for the interests of victims through the Ministries of Police, Courts, Justice and Corrections.
• Fully support victim restoration programmes for non-violent crimes to ensure that offenders and their families compensate victims for their losses and face up to the people they have hurt.
• Ensure that offenders complete their commitments under restorative justice contracts, and ensure that victims are kept informed of progress.
• Amend the recently passed Prisoner and Victim Compensation Act to make it impossible for prisoners to profit from their crimes through compensation payments, book royalties and media interviews.
• Ensure that Courts make the welfare and safety of victims, their families and the public paramount when considering bail applications.
• Recover reparation to victims through a restitution order at sentencing that would automatically deduct at least 10% of an offender's earnings.
• Ensure that the Parole Board consider the impact on victims and the community when considering the conditions placed parolees (e.g. restrictions on where they will be located).
• Ensure that Parole Board decision-making processes are made available for scrutiny, and are subject to appeal by victims.
• Allow the Parole Board discretion to decide when offenders can re-appear for parole proceedings and allow them to defer hearings for up to five years.
• Ensure that victims are informed about an offender's criminal history before they participate in restorative justice programmes such as family group conferences.
• Ensure that the police and judges undergo training to understand victims needs.
• Ensure that Victim Support is sufficiently funded to be an effective deliverer of services including representation and advocacy for all victims, as provided for under the Victims Rights Act 2002.
• consider parole applications for non-violent offences through a restorative approach with direct involvement of the victim.
• Stop people from leaving the country if they owe reparations, fines, or have defaulted on child support payments.
• Promote greater public understanding of the law surrounding self-defence so that people know what they can do to protect themselves, their families and their property.

		Return to Policies Index

Home | News | Successes | The Team | Policies | Get Involved

United Future Contacts: 0800 UFNZHQ
Parliamentary: Bowen House, Lambton Quay, Wellington E-mail: Ph: 04 471 9410