09 May 2005

Prisoners’ Claims Bill An Insult To Victims

New Zealand First justice spokesperson Dail Jones has called on the Government to scrap the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Bill which allows for compensation to prisoners.

Mr Jones said that the allowance for compensation in "exceptional cases" to prisoners was an insult to victims of crime and could be used and abused.

“New Zealand First believes that any funds received by criminals as a result of a successful claim should be paid first to victims of the criminals receiving the compensation. The balance should be paid into a victims claims rehabilitation account.

“Under no circumstance should any funds be made available to criminals. For too long the offenders in the country have had all the rights while the victims, whose lives are often ruined, have no comeback.”

Mr Jones said the Government should take appropriate action against prison officers and any other persons employed by the Corrections Department who abuse or mistreat prisoners.

“Remedies such as dismissal from the Corrections Department and prosecution should be utilised by the Government to ensure that any situations which would give rise to claims by criminals should not be repeated

“The State should not be compensating prisoners for their own stupidity. If they chose to misbehave while in prison they must accept the consequences,” said Mr Jones.

ENDS

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