Private Prisons to return

Delighted to see the new Wiri prison will be openly tendered. Not only may it cost less, but more importantly it provides opportunities to have a lower escape rate, and a higher rehabilitation rate.

Now Labour have said:

Locking people up in jails is a job for the state, not for private businesses whose prime motivation will inevitably be to make money out of a PPP venture, says Labour Law and Order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.

As usual, they put ideology ahead of any potential gains. But let’s rewrite their press release to show how stupid their statement is:

Prosecuting criminals is a job for the state, not for private businesses whose prime motivation will inevitably be to make money out of prosecutions, says Labour Law and Order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.

Prosecutions are just as much a core part of the criminal justice system, as are prisons. And we already have what is effectively PPPs in the crown law system.

The Crown Law office sets policies and standards for prosecutions, but contracts private law firms to do most of the prosecutions. Those private law firms make money out this arrangement.So why is Labour not calling for prosecutions to be nationalised?

Labour’s great weakness is their inability to put aside ideology to do what is best.

Some may accuse National of doing the same, but I can point to a specific counter in the law & order field.

Criminal defence work is also effectively privatised at present. It is done by private lawyers and law firms. However National is supporting and expanding the Crown’s Public Defender Service, as it has found in this case it can produce better outcomes. This is effectively nationalising a small part of something that was previously done purely by the private sector.