New Trust puts Rethinking Crime and Punishment on permanent footing

Supporters of the ‘Rethinking Crime and Punishment‘project have formed a charitable trust, to support and promote its work, and to promote wider community understanding of crime and justice policy.

“We have recently formed an independent charitable trust to more actively address crime and justice issues” said kim Workman, national Director of the Rethinking project. “It is named the Robson Hanan Trust after John Robson, former Secretary for Justice and the Hon Ralph Hanan, former Minister of Justice. They were two outstading justice reformers who between 1960 and 1970, introduced major reform to the criminal justice system.”

“The families of these two great men are highly supportive of the move”, said Kim Workman. “They acknowledged that the objectives of the Trust would have earned the support of both men.”

“John Robson and Ralph Hanan typified what could be achieved in justice reform, with policies and programmes that were logical, effective, based on good evidence, compassionate, and subject to consultation with criminal justice professionals and service providers” said Russell Marshall, Chairperson of the new trust. “When we approched their families, they were delighted that the two men were being honoured in this way. œ

Kim Workman recalled that the Hon Ralph Hanan, a National Government Minister of Justice, crossed the floor and voted against the death penalty. “My bet is that he would have also crossed the floor on the three strikes legislation”.

“One of our great regrets is that we didn’t have the resources to properly inform the public of the consequences of bad legislation, or promote effective interventions. Overseas experience shows that where the public were fully informed about legislation such as three strikes, the number supporting such legislation dwindled from 0% support, to around 20%. If that had een reflected in the political polling, the government may have decided not to run with it. Public education will be a major task for the new trust.

“The decision to put the Rethinking project on a permanent footing, is prompted by the recent criminal justice legislation and policy changes, which are highly punitive, unjust, breach human rights legislation and don’t reduce offending.”

“We are directed toward long term and sustainable changes in the criminal justice system, and an effective system that doesn’t rely only on punitiveness and state control, but provides support for both offenders and victims toward healing, reparation, reconciliation, transformation; and effective reintegration into the community.”

The Hon Russell Marshall will chair the Board of Directors, which includes a number of well known New Zealanders. Sir Paul Reeves, Sir Eddie Durie, the former Bishop of Waiapu, Peter Bluck, Major Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army, Sam Chapman (one of this years New Zealander of the Year), Greg Fleming of the Maxim Institute, Celia Lashlie, the former Director of Public Prisons, Phil McCarthy, Charles Waldegrave and Sharron Cole are amongst the 19 Directors.

“There are literally dozens of organisations and individuals from across the political, cultural and socioeconomic spectrum who want to get involved” said kim Workman. “The growing view is that the recent emphasis on punitive legislation and extreme control measures, is out of kilter with our sense of nationhood.”

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