Corrections Minister Is The Xmas Goose

New Zealand First corrections spokesperson Ron Mark has described the Corrections Minister’s claim that the early release of prisoners at Christmas reduces re-offending as ridiculous.

Margaret Wilson claimed that the reimprisonment rate for those inmates released early over Christmas 2001 was about six percentage points less than the rate for all other inmates released between April 2000 and March 2001.

Mr Mark said the obvious conclusion to be drawn from the policy was that the early release of ALL prisoners would reduce recidivism but this would simply not happen – as the community was only too well aware.

“In recent months we have seen the release of dangerous prisoners before they served their full sentence and they have been let loose without adequate supervision.

“The Minister is stretching her imagination to believe that she can take some statistical evidence from one set of figures in one year. She is simply trying to justify her government’s soft approach to criminals.”

Mr Mark said the system was not working and releasing shonky statistics was no substitute for tough but fair prison policies.

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