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Will the "three strikes" policy reduce violent crime in New Zealand?

By MSN NZ
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Rethinking Crime and Punishment spokesman Kim Workman
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The Government's proposal for a "three strikes" sentencing policy, which would see repeat violent offenders who kill spend the rest of their life in prison, has sparked debate by political and social groups.

The policy, "Three Strikes and Max", outlines 36 offences that count as a "strike".

If an offender commits three “strikes” they face the possibility of being locked away in jail without any chance of release — on the third strike the judge will have to impose the maximum sentence for the crime and the offender will not be eligible for parole.

Sentences range from seven years to life imprisonment — for murder and manslaughter, the maximum is life imprisonment, sexual violation carries a maximum sentence of 20 years and for aggravated robbery, kidnapping and attempted murder it’s 14 years.

The new system would also require an increase in prison beds — an extra 56 prison beds after five years, increasing to 725 beds after 50 years.

Last year it cost $249.25 a day to keep a prisoner in New Zealand, compared to $9.92 a day to have a prisoner on a community-based sentence.

Rethinking Crime and Punishment spokesman Kim Workman told reporters yesterday that the new policy shifted the focus from the judiciary to the police.

"Under the proposed legislation, the police could, for example, lay a charge of assault with aggravated injury against an offender, which is a three strikes offence. They could then plea bargain with the offender, and reduce the charge to aggravated assault, which is not eligible, on condition that the offender pleaded guilty to the lesser charge," he said.

"Police 'overcharging' is a major issue in New Zealand, with around 10 percent of all charges laid by the police being subsequently withdrawn.

"Judges on the other hand, can only decline to sentence under the three strikes legislation, when it would be 'manifestly unjust' to do so. All the discretion lies with the police."

Mr Workman also warned of longer jail sentences.

"The longer you keep people in prison, the less likely they are to reform,” he said.

Do you agree with the government's "three strikes" policy? Or will it just create more overcrowding in prisons without reducing violent crime in this country? Have your say below.

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User comments
its the fact that we as parents have no rights maybe he should be looking at paying kids to stay at school instead of letting have that youth benefit by making have to pass school before they end up doing a violent crime. our prisons are a joke, tuffen up on the youngs ones then maybe there wont be so many violent crimes, have hard from people that have been in jail and some of them call it there second home what dose that say, maybe they should stop putting people that have only growen pot inside, they the people that need the three strikes your out, violent crime is violent crime
Why would you let a three strikes your out if someone badly hurt any of my kids they would want to be in jail why, again shuting the gate when the horse has already left, no-one should get anymore then one chance to hurt anyone, what gives them the right to do it in the first place,that gives them a chance to do it again being in jail now is a bloody joke 3 times a day they get feed and we have staveing kids in this country and we wasting money like that maybe they should go back to the old ways when no-one wanted to be in there give them bloody bread and water thats what they desreve do the crime then maybe they should do real time look at how they live in there better then some people on the outside.
Little Johnny Keys is clarly nor capable of doing much right unless it will get him re-elected - go back to banking Joh. Three strikes is watered down version of the proper proposal but better than nothing. Bring it on and keep these people out of our way.
one strike and you are out for severe crime. Things to do with addiction should be treated straight away instead of letting it end up in further generations. Sort the kids out so they not angry adults.Not by handouts but give them the tools to achieve goals themselves.
3 strikes is a good idea- should be no statute of limitations on the qualifying crimes & they should include accomplices to these crimes. See how long the honour among thieves lasts then! Hope drug dealing and sexual offences against children on list. Reduce costs by seizing assets of murderers, dealers etc- even if not proven to be proceeds of crime (most career criminals buy dodgy gear from other criminals anyway, and get a lot of untraceable income from extortion, gang loans etc.) Oh and introduce ration books for prison meals, luxury goods etc.- vouchers earned through hard graft in workshops, etc- chain gangs clearing litter etc. would save money and make NZ a little greener. Rehab?- if you can work an 10 hour day for no wage other than food and amenities for a bit you will maybe grow a sense of responsibility and change for the better- you'll definitely get fitter!
Never mind '3 strikes' it should be a death sentence if you murder someone, cut your fingers off if you steal, and if you rape someone well damnit you should be raped. Or shot. You scar someone for life by doing that, so you don't deserve yours. If it costs that much, they obviously have it too easy. New Zealand is too soft, too intent on helping people change for the best, but of course those offenders don't change and keep offending cause they got it so good in there. Oh another thing is gangs, people commit a crime then one of the bro's will take the blame, just to get their patch. So there are innocent (sorta) people behind bars wasting government money while the real crims roam free. GET IT TOGETHER NZ
"Hell No" to the 3 Strikes. You commit the crime you do your time. Those who come from overseas and commit any crime here, should be sent back to their own countries quick smart. The government also need to realise that these criminals are in a Prison not a Live in HOTEL. Lower Working Glass people probably can't even have 3 meals a day, yet we can't not feed Prisoners, that would be too inhumane.
Yes I very much agree with the 3 strikes rule. We need to toughen up on crime in a big way. I am all for the death penalty but of course that will never come back as namby pambys are against it. So lets try this. Anything is worth a shot.
pliz introduce the three strikes asap.the sooner the better.
Bull ***** I wish I could spend that much money on my kids per day we can't even afford that much per week . Are these so called crimanals living on grayfish and drinking campayne every day . Give me a sentence sounds like a great hotel and I don,t even have to work and I would get free uni degree and not do dishes or clean house or cook , you government people are a joke no wonder they keep reofending they have it to easy .

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