WELLINGTON New Zealands Catholic bishops and Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand have opposed the proposed three strikes sentencing law before a parliamentary select committee. Caritas officials Mike Smith and Lisa Beech spoke out at the Law and Order Select Committees first hearings on the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill on May 6.
The bill proposes sending those convicted of three serious violent or sexual offences to jail with a non-parole period of 25 years.
In a joint submission, the bishops and Caritas strongly opposed the bill for reasons based on experience, which includes providing a prison chaplaincy service and assisting victims of crime, as well as ethical principles.
But they added that the most compelling reasons are in the advice provided by the Governments own officials.
The bill had proceeded thus far despite issues raised by the attorney general and various agencies, including police and corrections.
We strongly agree with the attorney generals assessment that the bill would result in disproportionately severe sentences, in breach of the Bill of Rights, bishops conference secretary Archbishop John Dew said later.
Archbishop Dew, who could not attend the hearings because of a prior engagement, said a three strikes law could see some violent offenders use greater violence to avoid arrest.
Not to promote the interests of prisoners is to run the risk of provoking only hatred in prisoners, Archbishop Dew added.
We believe that repentance and rehabilitation are always possible. We do not accept . . . [that] some offenders will be deprived of the possibility of rehabilitation.
The submission conceded that repeat offenders should expect longer sentences and the most violent offenders should be securely and humanely held in prison.
It also feared Maori would be disproportionately affected.
The submission said politicians should use research and public policy advice in making decisions in this area and not be driven by public emotion alone.
Corrections department figures show that none of the 423 prisoners serving life sentences would have been kept in jail without parole for previous offences under the bills current provisions.
