escalating violence in our community Become a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust

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Garth's Speech at the July 4th 2004 Ellerslie Meeting

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming today, very much appreciated

I would like to introduce you to my wife...

There are a lot of families here today who have lost a loved one to a violent crime: The Sensible Sentencing Trust exists for you, our thoughts are with you....
we would like to dedicate today's efforts to you and your loved ones.

What does this figure mean to you?

442,489

That is the number of victims of crime in this country last year!!

The level of Crime in our Community is the first indication of social policies gone wrong.

Why does an organisation like the Sensible Sentencing Trust exist?

See this Violent Crime Graph

This is in my lifetime!!

In the last thirty years New Zealand has gone from being one of the top performing nations in the OECD to now being near the bottom.

Over that same thirty year period.... our YOUTH SUICIDE....
Our CHILD ABUSE....our DRUG ABUSE....our DOMESTIC VIOLENCE....
and our overall VIOLENT CRIME figures have escalated alarmingly, and in fact are now some of the most horrifying amongst the so called developed nations.

Little babies are frequently being violently beaten or murdered - often by someone the child should be able to trust the most.

WHY?

What on earth did New Zealand do that has allowed this violent crime epidemic?

It is much of the legislation introduced during what we call the 30 year P.C. - or politically correct - experiment

While all of this legislation may have been well meaning.....the effect and the result has been the opposite.

The outcome has been catastrophic for New Zealand!!

I won't run through all of this legislation but I want you to understand what we mean.

Legal Aid:

Started in 1970 to ensure everyone had representation in Court... at a cost of just $100.000.

Legal Aid now costs close to one hundred million dollars per annum and actually encourages crime by discouraging accountability and responsibility.

A criminal will never learn to be accountable or responsible for their actions if you and I - the Tax payer - continue funding their habit.....

We are allowing them to make a deliberate career choice - CRIME!!!!!!.

And there are more than just the criminals with their snouts in the trough now!!!

Compare Legal Aid to Student debt.....

Our students have to pay compounding interest on their debt at a rate of around 7 percent

A criminal has his or her debt written off.....

We drive our brightest and best off shore, while paying all the expenses for the criminals - including bed and breakfast - and Legal Aid.

Are we not sending the wrong message here?

Parole:

....is another area contributing hugely to our re-offending rates

1984 - Government introduced automatic parole at two thirds of the sentence!!!!

2002 - Government gave criminals the right to apply for parole at one third!!!!

A Judge given sentence is a joke - this - the Parole Act legislation - is making a mockery of the word JUSTICE

The Parole Board are being forced to work with legislation they have no input into

The circus that now surrounds parole is a disgrace..

Parole for Violent Offenders must be abolished!!

We have a certain amount of sympathy for the Parole board....as I said they are working with legislation that in our opinion is unworkable.

There have been petitions - there have been referendums. All have been ignored.

In fact the Government told us that the new Sentencing Act was their answer to the 92 percent of the people who voted for harsher sentences.

In Christchurch.....Wellington.....Auckland......
One thing there was unanimous public support for was that anyone who commits pre-meditated or aggravated murder should receive a true LIFE SENTENCE

Look what we ended up with - the Sentencing Act......
A judge must now take into account the criminals personal, family and cultural background when imposing a sentence.....

So if you happen to be drunk, or you happen to be a bed wetter or had a bad upbringing...... the Judge is now instructed to:

IMPOSE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE SENTENCE APPROPRIATE!

Sensible Sentencing is all about individual
ACCOUNTABILITY & RESPONSIBILITY

We believe New Zealand desperately needs legislation that holds criminals accountable and responsible at every level of their criminal career!!

Starting by taking career Criminals out!!!

The Sentencing and Parole Act does not do that!!

Throw Sentencing and Parole Act in the Rubbish

I used to blame the Judges, but I have seen frustrated Judges point at Parliament and say:
"We can only do what Parliament allows us to do".

So Parliament - or more precisely Government is to blame -not only this Government either - National had 9 years and they did not listen either.

Hopefully they are listening now!!!

But there are some very good politicians fighting very hard to get some common sense into legislation.....some of them are sitting in this room today.

It is not just legislation - this whole attitude of excuses, excuses and more excuses has got to stop. Our youth need boundaries - and responsible parents - not political arrogance.

New Zealand needs legislation that holds criminals.....
ACCOUNTABLE and RESPONSIBLE.

All very well being critical.....and saying what we want..... what do we do about it?

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is now New Zealand's largest organisation fighting for victim's rights and Justice Reform.

Our focus on the ridiculous sentences has been a deliberate part of our strategy to motivate community debate around this whole circus called... "JUSTICE"!!

We hoped that would eventually encourage political buy-in.

Many New Zealanders have made a huge investment in their families and their business, only to see it destroyed by the thoughtless, mindless actions of violent thugs, who in most cases have been recycled through the revolving doors of our Criminal Justice System, not once - but many times.

What we have asked is that people reflect for a moment on the fairness - and horrific cost - and consequences of violent crime to the victim.... their families..... and the wider community.

We know that sentencing in itself is not the end all and be all....

But some of New Zealand's worst criminals have had 70 or 80 and some even two or three hundred previous offences, and at this stage we simply continue putting them through the revolving doors of our Criminal Justice System!!! It's Crazy!!!

We believe that law and order must be the very foundations of any economically performing and well adjusted society.

If we get law and order right the pay back will come.

Sensible Sentencing has been able to help create the beginnings of an incredible environment in New Zealand - a total mood swing - what is happening politically has not been seen for a long time.

The Government is doing a U-turn on many failed policies and most opposition parties are now talking the same tune on law and order.

We felt it was absolutely essential that Sensible Sentencing Trust not get involved in the multitude of social ills out there.

WE COULD NOT BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE.

Our job was and is to remain focused and expose the horrific results - the consequences of failed legislation and social policies.

Far better for us to be the eye of the storm and motivate the debate.

Sensible Sentencing in itself is not an end. It is simply a beginning....

We are now getting traction in the SENTENCING and PAROLE area....

We believe we are now ready to move into the area of promoting responsible, accountable parenting

But to win - we must begin....

Ladies and Gentlemen today is the 4th July..... but is it really Independence Day?

Is this the day that we start turning this Violent Crime Graph around?

I started off by asking why does and Organisation like Sensible Sentencing exist?

This is the real reason!!

Image of Garth's grandchildren - to come.....

These are our Grandchildren

We want to ensure that these kids and others like them have a better future....
Than the one that marks my lifetime at present.

Dr Brash's excellent speech that followed is here