Labour wants to let them all out

Newshub reports:

The three strikes law will be repealed in two weeks, Newshub can reveal – and Justice Minister will also push for sentences shorter than two years to be served as home detention. 

This comes after Newshub Nation obtained a dossier of documents that gives the biggest insight yet into radical plans to overhaul the justice system.

The Government is preparing to soften bail, sentencing and parole laws, and Newshub can reveal it’s already discussing how to reassure the public in the event of a high-profile crime.

From a partisan point of view I should be pleased. Government MPs are so out of touch with the average New Zealander on these issues that their moves will significantly increase their chances of losing the next election.

But it would come at a terrible cost. Families will be destroyed by their policies as more violent crims are let out early to rape, bash and kill more New Zealanders.

As much as the political side of me would like to see them repeal the laws and suffer the electoral consequences, the price is too high too pay. We need to stop these law changes.

The type of crime they’re referring to could include the November 2011 murder of teenager Christie Marceau by Ashkay Chand while he was on bail. 

At the time of the fatal stabbing, Chand was on bail charged with kidnapping and threatening to rape Ms Marceau just months earlier. He later pleaded guilty to those charges and received a three-year sentence.

Far too many crimes are still being committed by those on bail or parole.

The three strikes law has actually seen reoffending rates drop for those convicted of a first strike. The answer to over crowded prisons is not to let violent criminals with a high risk of reoffending out early. The answer is to reduce the reoffending rate.