Offender DatabasesViolent and Sexual Offender Databases |
Victims MemorialA memorial to those murdered in NZ in the last twenty years |
Murder Maps Location Map of murders so far this year
EDUCATE . ADVOCATE . SUPPORT
SITEMAP(3)Where to find everything here | FAQFrequently Asked Questions | New!New on this site lately |  Chinese language summary
|
escalating violence in our community
Become a member of the
Sensible Sentencing Trust
17Newsletter 17
16Newsletter 16
15
14Newsletter 14
13Newsletter 13
12Newsletter 12
11Newsletter 11
10Newsletter 10
9Newsletter 9
8Newsletter 8
7Newsletter 7
6Newsletter 6
5Newsletter 5
4Newsletter 4
3Newsletter 3
2Newsletter 2
1Newsletter 1
Picture: Garth McVicar on the farm
My worst nightmare came true recently......
I had been invited to accompany the Minister of Corrections on a ''fact-finding'' trip overseas (that wasn't the nightmare) - the nightmare began in my deer shed two days before I was to meet the Government delegation. A stag decided to have the last word and kick me in the head. On meeting the delegation in Auckland I was sporting two black eyes and a huge cut to the forehead! Suffice to say the Minister had to do some fast talking to convince our various hosts that I was actually part of his delegation not one of the inmates from the prisons we were visiting!
I realise what controversy accepting the Minister's invitation has caused, but the Sensible Sentencing Trust ultimately is here for victims - if we are going to reduce the number of victims in this country we need to reduce the level of offending. If other countries are doing that better than us, we need to know.
The decision to go with the Minister was made on that basis, I stand by that decision.
We met Justice officials in London, Holland and Finland and also visited prisons in those countries. There has been a lot of spin and misinformation since I have returned, particularly about the Finland prison system. While Finland does have a significantly lower prison muster based on per head of population than us, it was achieved by their deliberate de-carceration policy and a change in sentencing guidelines. Their prison numbers are now escalating again.
It was also apparent Finland has a totally different culture mix to New Zealand and does not have the same level of violent crime; most of their crimes are drug and alcohol related.
We do not recommend Finland as an example that New Zealand should follow, in fact we see no reason New Zealand should follow any country, we can teat the world in this fight against crime. We just need strong leaders.
My full report on the trip is available here
I remain totally convinced that New Zealand could lead the world in this fight against crime -
We just lack policy and the leaders with the backbone to do what needs to be done.
-Garth
Over the last 30 years past ant present Governments have destroyed the basic but essential ingredients of a well-balanced society - the family unit.
The social vandalism and outright thuggery that has been promoted by policy makers ant adopted by even weaker politicians has been catastrophic for New Zealand. Now they wonder why we are having a blow-out in the prison populations!
Family group conferences, protection orders, early parole and bail for violent offenders are all examples of failed legislation that must be vastly improved if we as a nation are ever to get on top of this violent crime epidemic.
In recent times two very prominent Judges, Andrew Becroft, head of the Youth Court and Peter Boshier, Chief Family Court Judge have both made bold statements about their concerns at the escalating level of violent crime in our society.
We encourage more judges to follow the lead by commenting on the politically correct nonsensical legislation that has created this travesty.
The last election delivered the closest result in New Zealand's history and that fact has not escaped those who currently warm Treasury benches. Over recent times the Sensible Sentencing Trust has received invitations to meet Ministry of Justice officials and also executives from the Law Commission.
The vibe we are consistently getting is that a decision has been made that the Government can no longer ignore public opinion and if they want to stay in power they will need to listen to and engage with organisations that represent public opinion.
We are quietly optimistic that some very positive changes are being mooted in the not too distant future.
Garth
National Office : PO Box 701 NAPIER Phone (06) 835 5521 Fax (06) 835 5520 National Chairman : Garth McVicar (027) 248 7919
Once we had a justice system that people believed In. When someone was wronged, we thought the law would put It right. But today, whale violence escalates, the victims of crime are Increasingly left to fend for themselves Justice Is melting away and ordinary New Zealanders seem powerless to do anything about It
SST Is constantly hearing from respectable, Iaw-abldlng citizens who through no fault of their own have become unwilling participants In our Criminal Justice system. It Is a system more focused on meeting the needs of the criminal than considering or respecting the needs of the victim. It Is little wonder public confidence has been lost.
It takes just a moment for any one of us to become a victim of crime and have our lives changed forever. It Is a traumatic transition, ant one that today carries with it the added ordeal of being thrust into a foreign world where police, cruds, sentencing, parole ant constant metla scrutiny often seem to work against the victim. The very system designed to bring justice merely leaves innocent people revictimised and let down.
Victims of crime are often forgotten by the public, neglected by legislators and ignored or mistreated by those who operate the criminal justice system. But victims have rights and like all other human rights these must be respected.
Crime victims are not recognised In law, they have no independent or legal status, no right to choose counsel, no right to appeal, no control in the prosecution of their case or voice in its disposition Their rights remain privileges to be granted or denied depending on the whim of police, prosecutor or judge. There are no penalties or consequences for those who breach these rights.
The Victims Rlghts Act 2002 Is an Act In principle only and does not confer on any person any legal right that is enforceable in a court of law. This must change. Victims must be awarded full legal status ant the Victims Rights Act be made legally enforceable. Criminals are assisted to have their rights endorsed in a Court of Law, so too should victims.
It seems only sensible that the wronged person be put at the heart of that process. This Is vital for justice, for fighting crime ant most of all for the victims themselves, who need to know that justice is working for them and that their rights are protected and taken seriously.
How can we allow the person who the crime affects the most, to be considered the least?
It is now two years since Tai Hobson first took his case to court. Tai's wife Mary was brutally murdered with two others and another left for dead at the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA by William Bell. Probation services were grossly negligent in failing to ensure Bell met his parole conditions. Mary ant the other RSA workers would be alive today if probation services had followed their own regulations. This case is about accountability and responsibility and Tai wants to make sure this never happens again to anyone else.
The case was struck out of court before he even had the chance to present it in its entirety. Some criminals have been paid thousands of dollars when the system has failed them. Yet when that same system failed Mary and the other RSA workers, their families are being denied the right to have their allegations even heard.
It was taken to the Court of Appeal in November 2005 and Tai is still waiting a decision....
- Wendy Pedler
Over the years we have been contacted by a number of police officers expressing their concerns at various aspects regarding what they consider to be systemic failures in the present legal system. (See page 4 from Constable X)
Early this year we organised a campaign to bring attention to these concerns, a number of senior police expressed similar frustrations to Constable X. Their point really was why employ another 1090 police - if the historic failures that are causing so many police to leave - still exists.
An example of the frustrations the police are putting up with has been brought to our attention and we would like to share it with our readers.
Natasha Hayden was murdered in Tauranga on January 10, 2005, due to the exploits and antics of an over-zealous defence lawyer the accused got bail - yes bail while on a murder charge - the accused was released to his family home. In a horrific turn of events a 2-year-old baby girl later sustained horrific injuries while at the house of the accused, the baby - Aliyah Morrisey- died from her injuries in Auckland's Starship hospital as a result of the massive injuries received.
Natasha's killer was found guilty of manslaughter on the 11th of May, but the real injustice and utter folly of our legal system is still unravelling and enforces the frustrations our police are feeling.
Due to the ridiculous ''disclosure'' laws police have had to disclose all the evidence on the accused to his defence lawyer - who has then negotiated with police to lower the murder charge in Natasha's case to manslaughter - and this fine upstanding defence lawyer will no-doubt be working diligently for his client to have the charge of murdering baby Aliyah lowered or dropped altogether.
Police who have contacted the Sensible Sentencing Trust have serious concerns regarding the present policies of our legal system and the effect this is having on the level of crime and spiraling prison population. They say to see a repeat offender appear before a Judge and literally get a smack with a wet-bus ticket is causing the public to lose confidence in our lawenforcement agencies. The result is having a demoralising effect on police causing disillusioned experienced officers to leave the force.
News flash!!!
We have just received notification that the Minister of Police
has asked her officials to look into the matters the officers
have raised, We will keep our members informed on
developments.
"Any justice system has it's imperfections - it's strength lies in recognising and remedying them"
To those of you not familiar with Joe Arpaio, he is the Maricopa Arizona County Sheriff and he keeps getting elected over and over again.
Perhaps these are the reasons why :
Joe Arpaio, the tough-guy sheriff who created the tent city and long ago
started making his prisoners wear pink ant eat bologna sandwiches, is not
one bit sympathetic. He told inmates one day: ''It's 120 degrees in Iraq and
our soldiers are living in tents too and they have to wear full battle gear but
they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your damned mouths!"
With temperatures being even hotter than usual in Phoenix (116 degrees set a new record), the Associated Press reports: About 2,000 inmates living in a barbed-wire surrounded tent encampment at the Maricopa County Jail have been given permission to strip down to their Government issued pink boxer shorts.
Hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled up on their bunk beds or chatted in the tents which reached 138 degrees inside. Many were also swathed in wet pink towels as sweat collected on their chests and dripped down to their pink socks. ''It feels like we are in a furnace It's inhumane'' said an inmate who had lived in the tent for one year.
Sheriff Joe has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them. He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails. Took away their weights. Cut off all but ''G'' movies.
He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects. Then he started chain gangs for women so he wouldn't get sued for discrimination.
He took away cable TV until he found out there was a federal court order that required cable TV for jails, So he hooked up the cable TV again and only let in the Disney channel and the weather channel, When asked why the weather channel he replied ''So they will know how hot it's gonna be while they are working on my chain gangs''
He cut off coffee since it has zero nutritional value. When the inmates complained, he told them ''This isn't the Ritz/Carlton. If you don't like it, don't come back"
. He bought the Newt Gingrich lecture series on videotape that he pipes into the jails. When asked by a reporter if he had any lecture series by a Democrat, he replied that a Democratic lecture series might explain why a lot of the inmates were in his jails in the first place.
Way to go, Sheriff! Maybe if all prisons were like this one there would be a lot less crime and repeat offenders. Criminals should be punished fir their crimes - not live in luxury until it's time for their parole, only to go out and commit another crime so they can get back In to live on taxpayers' money and enjoy things taxpayers can't afford to have for themselves. (Article and comments sent in by SST member)
"Sensible thinking on crime"
The Sensible Sentencing Trust is currently fundraising to bring two very
controversial speakers to New Zealand to ensure the crime/prison debate
does not lose momentum.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio : "Tent City Jails"
(See article opposite)
Sheriff Joe has been making headlines around the world for his "tent city" jails; the sheriff has been so successful at reducing costs and reducing re-offending that Tony Blair's Labour Government sent a
delegation of Justice officials on a fact-finding mission to the Sheriff's Maricopa County in Arizona.
Blair trials "Tent City Jails"
the outcome of the visit was that the Blair Government has contracted Sheriff Joe to take some of
Britain's prisoners and put them through the tent city system as an experiment. If successful
Britain will adopt Sheriff Joe's tent city jails. Tony Blair has already proven he is not scared to make
the tough calls!
New Zealand should follow suit.
New Zealand has a horrific crime problem and prison population to match. If our Government is
serious about the current review, Sheriff Joe's methods must be part of that review
Theodore Dalrymple is a morally courageous, outspoken and controversial opponent of the modern day excuse driven, soft on crime mentality; he promotes an unconventional but well researched view that criminals commit crime for two main fundamental reasons; they choose to and that an army of social workers and liberal bureaucrats have allowed crime to flourish and have created an underclass to ensure its survival.
For three decades a self-anointed elite ran an experiment in being nicer to criminals hoping that criminals might be nicer in return. Rocketing serious crime rates showed their stupidity, but eyes virtuously closed saw nothing wrong.
Norm Withers' referendum shocked that elite in 1999. Their response? The 2002 Sentencing Act increased a few headline sentences but gave even more control over sentencing to the goofy parole theorists. Finally Sensible Sentencing and the 2002 and 2005 elections scared the anointed. They got the message - voters' tolerance had run out.
Today you see their counter-attack. The chattering classes, those who write editorials, and exclaim to each other on National radio, and pontificate from TV screens, are getting seriously organised. They are marshalling all their control of taxpaid resources to push Sensible Sentencing back to the shadows of ''unacceptability''.
Listen to the Minister of Justice talking to the Judges' conference on March 24th : ''New Zealand's high rate of imprisonment is no longer sustainable, either financially or socially.. (it does not) reflect the values we. . .hold dear." You've seen the newspaper editorials, the planted radio and 'TV coverage all chorusing ''prison doesn't work''
Of course it doesn't, if you measure success by the reform rate. No research shows that any country has cracked the reform trick for established criminals. Prison does not reform, it just prevents further crime by known criminals, and deters those who are thinking about starting.
The rate we're interested in is the crime rate. Justice success is when fewer innocents are burgled, bashed robbed raped and murdered each year. On that measure, prison works, but only when the price is certain.
Certainty was the key to the stunning success of Clinton's federal criminal justice reform, and the sustained 30% drop in every category of violent crime across the US.
Career criminals have high self esteem, They gamble on beating the odds. Every element of uncertainty about having to pay a price for their actions attracts them. So the greatest impact on criminal minds comes from early certain consequences. Speed and certainty is much more important than severity.
Our system is heading toward the worst of all combinations - slow, uncertain but nominally very severe consequences delivering the worst of all outcomes - very high imprisonment rates and high crime.
Every element of the US reform went in a consistent direction. The message went out that the criminal law was going to mean exactly what it said. Parole was abolished. The chances of getting caught were increased with more police. Judges' sentencing discretions were sharply limited. Court resources were beefed up to ensure prompt processing. In New York for example courts sat all night and over the weekends if necessary.
Just in case you ever get the two mixed up, this should make things a bit clearer....
In Prison - you spend the majority of your time in an 8 x 10 cell
At work - you spend the majority of your time in an 8 x 6 cubicle !!!
In Prison - You get three meals a day.
At work - you only get a break for one meal and you have to pay for it !!!
In Prison - you get time off for good behaviour
At work - you get given even more work for good behaviour !!!
In Prison - the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you
At work - you must carry around a security card and open all the doors for yourself !!!
In Prison - you can watch TV and play games
At work - You get fired for watching TV and playing games !!!
In Prison - you get your own toilet
At work - you have to share with some idiot who pees on the seat !!!
In Prison - they allow your family and friends to visit
At work - you can't even speak to your family on the telephone !!!
In Prison - all expenses are paid by the taxpayers, with no work involved
At work - you get to pay all the expenses to go to work, and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners !!!
In Prison - you spend most of your life inside behind bars wanting to get out
At work - you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside behind bars
In Prison - you must deal with sadistic wardens
At work - they are called Managers
But cheer up, because.....
In Prison..... you have to stay all the time
At Work.... you get to go home sometimes
State law changes like 3 strikes (felonies) and you're out (for 25 years) sent
a simple message - ''a new sheriff has come to town". Even its most rabid
supporters were stunned by the huge crime reductions within 18 months.
Those reductions had been only hoped for over many years (as the mandatory
sentence caught up with incorrigible villains and they were locked away). It
seems villains did watch enough TV to know that the odds had changed.
That message of certainty is the opposite of what Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor is now doing. He is signaling wildly he has lost the political nerve to lock up criminals. The whole system is now hearing that it must look for any excuse to let criminals out.
Instead he should have appeared grimly determined, vowing to build as many prisons as it takes for as long as it takes. Every other element of the system should have been reworked to send the same message.
As the US has shown, crime patterns do change dramatically when the message gets through, and peak prison populations then do start to fall. But you will not hear about the stunning success of US crime policy from our media. It does not fit their world view.
Police officers face a myriad of ''stresses'' in their daily working lives. Many people assume the most difficult aspects of police work to be the ever-present likelihood of violent confrontations with criminals or having to deal with trauma and death in its various grisly forms.
While such things inevitably take their toll, far harder for police to cope with is the overwhelming climate of political correctness and global ''excuse-itis'' that is driving decent, hard-working police from the job in ever-increasing numbers.
In this 'PC-gone-mad' atmosphere where no one is ever responsible for their actions - everything is always someone else's fault - the legal system (note the deliberate avoidance of the term 'justice' system) is often the biggest single stressor for over-worked police.
It is impossible for someone who has not faced it to understand the frustration of bringing a dangerous, violent, anti-social, conscience-less criminal before the court to have his actions - all of which have had devastating effects on victims - minimised, 'justified', excused or exempted from consequence. To have a violent offender walk free to laugh at his victim, or a thief to sit laughing in the back of a courtroom as a judge accepts a Iawyer's litany of ''not-my-client's-fault-because'' submissions defies adequate description in words.
To oppose bail for a violent offender who has just beaten his wife senseless for the umpteenth time, and have a judge release him on bail because of the political pressure that requires him to bear in mind the national prison population, is far more stressful for a police officer than an ''honest'' confrontation with a violent drunk.
When criminals are convicted, the pathetic sentences handed down by some ivory-towered judges (whose inadequate grasp of Iife's realities must be seen and heard to be believed) is a major stress for police. Day after day those judges are telling criminals that what they are doing is not as bad as the police (and the victims for whom they act) are making out . . . ''And anyway, as your lawyer has explained: 'it isn't really your fauIt!"
It IS that bad - there is no such thing as a ''minor'' beating to the victim who only remembers cowering in terror at the time, nor is there such a thing as a 'minor' burglary or theft - not to victims whose homes or property have been violated by loathsome thieves.
Police are not there for sport or fun - most of them join the job to help people and to make a difference; to find themselves trapped in a system that disparages their every effort is what grinds police officers into the ground. More and more of them are finding it increasingly difficult to be part of a system that effectively says to victims: I'd like to help you, but whatever I do will be a waste of time - sorry, but as far as the system is concerned, you don't really matter.
So while Auckland lawyers complain about their legal-aid fees (poor things! - must be tough to run the new Mercedes on the pittances handed out for defending all those 'innocent' criminals), police officers - the gossamer-thin barrier between decent society and anarchy - are leaving the job in droves.
ARREST IN THE KILLING OF JACK NICHOLAS
A breakthrough in the killing of HB farmer Jack Nicholas who was
gunned down in his yard 2 years ago came after the Sensible Sentencing Trust
received vital information.
Our thoughts are with the Nicholas family
I have had the misfortune of joining a growing number of families who are victims of violent crime. The trauma associated with homicide is a terrible burden for any family or society.
On February 2, 2000, my daughter Lisa and her dog Kaos were picked up by Timothy Taylor who drove to Kohoai and dumped Kaos off and then drove onto Porter River. Lisa loved her dog and he was her constant companion, so from that moment on Lisa would realise she was in terrible trouble. Taylor stabbed Lisa 8 times and proceeded to strangle her to death, then put her body in the Porter River and weighed it down with a 80kg rock.
One can only imagine the horror of the last few minutes of her life. After a huge police investigation, he was arrested almost a year to the date when Lisa was found. Taylor was sentenced to 10 years prison. I was happy with the trial proceedings and all it pertained, the police investigation, the public help and our strong belief in justice helped us to keep going. Hearing the words ''guilty'' from the jury foreman was met with a barrage of emotions from joy to utter sadness and sorrow. Taylor showed no remorse and his body language was one of contempt for Lisa and her family and the court.
When I identified my daughter's body in Christchurch Hospital I kissed her on the cheek and swore to uphold justice and do my utmost to keep whoever did this inside for as long as possible. After Justice Young gave Taylor a life sentence I was happy, but later realised that prior to the trial he had been convicted on counts of two armed robberies, a kidnapping, several drugs charges including methamphetamine use, firearms charges, assaults and fraud charges. He was given a total of 10 years on those charges. Assuming parole was granted he would have been out in seven years, so really he only got three years for taking my daughter's life.
Eiither I have been robbed of justice or his previous victims have lost out on justice. Surely an accumulative sentence should have been handed down on these 2 separate trials. l phoned the Crown Solicitors office and spoke to Nicola Crutchley but was not prepared for her reply. In her words "Lisa's murder is at the low end of the scale" she stated..... ''That a shooting for instance, was a more violent death''......
I believe that sentences for murder should represent public sentiment, they are demanding further changes and modification to current sentencing laws. For so long politicians have not listened to the police or the public and have been more interested in listening to comments from small minority liberal-minded groups.
Taylor's legal aid bill at the trial was over $300,000. This amount is contemptible in relation to what victims and their families must struggle with. There is no amount of money that can make up for compensation for the loss of a loved one. It is a sad indictment of our laws and society when criminals receive greater support and compensation than their victims.
"I will not give up the fight for Lisa.
My daughter was a good person who loved life
to the full, she was a free spirit and a butterfly
flitting through life, sharing friends and love
along the way. Our family will never forget her,
her love, wit and smile."
Rest in Peace Lisa.
You are safe once more in the arms of family.
A big thank you must go to Doug Blake and family and also to the many others in similar situations who have assisted the Sensible Sentencing Trust in continually exposing the failings of our legal system. From a victim's perspective, the current offender based system makes real justice an unattainable dream
Your courage and determination is an inspiration to us and we promise you the battle for Justice Reform and Victim's Rights will continue.
From Garth and the Team
I appreciate all you have done to influence the judiciary. Sentencing has been beyond belief.
There is a lack of care for victims. As a woman alone, the issues of the day are
overwhelming. I am grateful that people like yourself are working to bring about change
for the better.
- Waiheke Island
Every time I hear one of your advertisments I feel for the people and families who have lost
loved ones through the callousness of criminals. I truly admire not only what you do,
but what you stand for.
- Christchurch
I really wonder if the whole justice system is now out of date and is run by people who are so removed from sociey and its rapid changes that things are just going to get worse.
- Auckland
I support the Trust and believe there is a great need for a rational voice to be heard in this country
to balance the never ending cry of the "rights" for law breakers, prison inmates and people who
contribute nothing to this country.
- Mt Maunganui
The national team at SST would like to thank members for their fantastic response to our last newsletter. To those of you who have made a donation or an automatic payment - thank you, your generosity enables the Trust to continue long term.
We proudly stand as the voice for victims and will continue to fight for justice reform, and it is wonderful to have you as part of that fight.
We look forward to working with you for the future of New Zealand.
I express my concern regarding the crime in this country and to congratulate you on your stand
against it. Thank goodness we have someone who has the courage to stand up and fight against
all these dreadful things that are happening. I am an elderly person living alone and it frightens me
to read and hear what is going on.
- Fielding
Your work is so vital and it has already made a difference. It would be a tragedy if the Trust wound
up. Ordinary sensible folk would again be left without a voice.
- Palmerston North
As a Kiwi who no longer lives in NZ (I've just lost faith in those who run the country) I want to say
that I think you are doing a great job and I thank you for that. My heart is still in NZ and it's
people like you who make it what it is. Please keep up the good work.
- Sweden
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have offered to write submissions for the up and coming select committee hearing on the
Rights of Victims in the New Zealand Justice System...
As this goes to print we still do not have a date for this hearing, as soon as we get notice you will be contacted in plenty of time to write your submission.
Two new major sponsors have cemented the survival of the Sensible Sentencing Trust. We would like to thank Andy Lowe of Hill Country Beef for his significant monthly donation.
A huge thank you to the Hastings RSA who have made a commitment to the Trust for the next 10 years. With this kind of support we are able to plan for the future of the Trust.
"The system is wrong and needs to be changed and our members fully support what the Sensible Sentencing Trust is trying to do in this regard, " says Hastings RSA Manager Neil Murphy. "Part of the motto of the
RSA is People Helping People and that is what this is all about."
- Quote from HB Today article Dec 05
Continued lobbying for
Special mention must be made of Ross Crosby from Australia who does a tremendous
amount of work for Pete on the Offenders Databases.
Thank You Ross from the team at SST.
We encourage all members to support this by sending in a submission.
The Justice and Electoral Committee announced today that it will conduct an inquiry into victims rights.
The terms of reference are :
To examine the place of and outcomes for victims of crime and their families in the criminal justice system by :
When Garth and Anne McVicar first founded SST five years ago l remember thinking
what an admirable thing to do. An everyday husband and wife team willing to fight
fo rjustice and take a stand alongside the many victims who battle against an offender-based
justice system daily.
With a "kiwi can do'' attitude, a lot of passion, and their own time and money away they
went. After a lot of hard work, they are now a force to be reckoned with.
Back when it was first founded I thought, "I must do something to support the Trust'',
however it took until part way through last year before I finally took the plunge and
made a commitment. Originally I came on board in a part time role. I have to say
when you are surrounded by the dedication and passion the team has, I couldn't
help but be drawn even deeper into the cause.
More recently I have been working full time at SST, attending speaking engagements
and investigating ways of attracting funding and sponsorship. The role is very challenging,
yet I need only think of the victims and the families I have met through the Trust, to
realise it is at the same time a very rewarding role.
We all work on a volunteer basis; we do not receive community or Government
funding.
Now to a little of my background. More recently I have been mainly in administration
PA type roles, in Masterton, Taupo, Auckland, Hawke's Bay and Sydney. However
my original trade was as a seamstress and l have worked both in NZ and also in Sydney for a large
fashion house where l also filled the role of house model.
ln 2004 I changed direction completely and entered the Corrections Dept as a full
time Corrections officer at Hawke's Bay Prison in Hastings. Although I was only
there for about 7 months and I found the role challenging, rewarding and enjoyable
l also found the bureaucracy, inconsistencies and misuse of taxpayer's money very
frustrating, and I chose to leave.
Having said this I would advise those who wish to walk this path to by all means
"give it a go''. It is not a role for everyone, however there are some amazing officers
out there both male and female and the more good officers who venture there the
greater the likelihood of there being a more professionally well run prison. "Sensible
Sentencing'' leading to "Sensibly Served Time".
Chris Chambers
027 2207898
sensiblesentencing.1@xtra.co.nz
The myth that the Sensible Sentencing Trust is "political" should have been dispelled long ago. The aims and objectives of the Trust in the early days of it's formation were to have murderers, rapists and perpetrators of brutal, violent crime kept away from the community for as long as possible and for more attention to be paid to the needs of victims and those left grieving - and less to the "rights" of their attackers.
Once it was realised that the Trust was credible and "here for the long haul", the calls from many political parties to join with them came flooding in. The answer was then, is now, and will be for as long as long as the Trust needs to exist : "Thank you but no thank you."
The affiliation of the Sensible Sentencing Trust to any one political party would obviously lead
to the actions of the Trust being dictated by the policies of that party. Garth says categorically
that will not happen!
by Dick Klingender
Hawke's Bay contact
Home (1)
|
SITEMAP (3)
|
FAQ
|
New!
|
Articles
|
Newsletters
|
Statistics
|
Join up!
|
What's On
|
Press Releases
|
Contacts
|
Links
|
Victims' Stories
|
Submissions
|
Goals and Policy
|
Useful Info
|
Access Keys (0)
|
