Restorative justice figures not credible

30th June 2016

The Sensible Sentencing Trust says the restorative justice figures released by Justice Minister Amy Adams are not credible.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1606/S00473/162m-boost-for-restorative-justice.htm
Jock Jamieson who is the Public Awareness and Education spokesman for SST says he suspects the figures are more about the Government trying to manipulate the figures to meet its target to reduce crime than actually reducing crime.

“The Minister seems to be once again promoting Restorative Justice and claimed the following in her press release of 29th June.”

“Data from 2008 to 2013 shows the reoffending rate for offenders who participated in restorative justice was 15 percent lower over the following 12 month period than comparable offenders, with 26 percent fewer offences per offender.”

Mr. Jamieson challenges that statement, “15% lower in the following 12 month period is it? What about 13 months and beyond? These are meaningless numbers as recidivist offenders know how to behave during the period all eyes are on them.”

“So if a 15% lower reoffending rate equals 26% fewer offences per offender, then how bad was it before?”

“Are we supposed to believe recidivist offenders are changed forever as a result of sitting down at a meeting with their victims?”

Mr. Jamieson said the Minister had recently addressed a victims of crime conference where she stated that victims of crime should be at the centre of the justice system, not offenders.
“If pouring money into a restorative justice system with dubious outcomes is the solution then we are no further ahead in lowering crime in NZ.”

“After years of battling the parole system to keep the killers of my in-laws killers in prison I have become to realize that this country has a very offender friendly criminal centred legal system that is designed to stop offenders being held to account and get them out of prison as soon as possible.”

“It is archaic and cruel to victims and I suspect restorative justice to be exactly the same.”

ENDS

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