Americans want less prisons, more community programmes – What do Kiwi’s want?

A new report released by the US Pew Foundation on public opinion and corrections shows that the way Americans are thinking about corrections is changing. Kim Workman of Rethinking Crime and Punishment, believes the same is happening in New Zealand, and calls for a similar survey.

“There is a seismic shift occurring in the USA and elsewhere”, says Kim Workman, Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment. The American poll showed conclusively that voters;

1. Believed that too many people are in prison and the nation spends too much on imprisonment.

2. Supported a variety of policy changes that shift non-violent offenders from prison to more effective, less expensive alternatives.

3. Supported sentencing and corrections reforms (including reduced prison terms). That support was strong across political parties, regions, age, gender, and racial/ethnic groups.

“The New Zealand Ministry of Justice hasn’t conducted a public attitudes survey of this kind since 2003. It is very clear that there is mood for change in New Zealand, but we don’t know the extent of that. If the government is determined to reduce crime and recidivism, now is the time to measure the extent of public support for significant corrections and sentencing reform.”
The American poll showed that:

• 69% percent of those polled believed that prisons were ineffective, and there were more effective, less costly alternatives available.

• 84% wanted to see more non-violent offenders diverted from prison into community based programmes

• 86% wanted sentences for non-violent offenders shortened by between six months and a year if they behaved well

• 67% wanted shorter sentences provided it was followed by a period of parole and supervision

• 69% wanted more emphasis on community treatment programmes and more resources investing in to community probation and parole
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewcenteronthestatesorg/Initiatives/PSPP/PEW_NationalSurveyResearchPaper_FINAL.pdf

Kim Workman
Rethinking Crime and Punishment

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