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escalating violence in our community
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Sensible Sentencing Trust
The Victims' Rights Act has been a positive move, but it did not make the "rights" enforceable. The Government should show their sincerity by creating a Ministry for Victims. With over 100,000 victims per year the criminal justice industry is New Zealands fastest growing industry. A Ministry for Victims would ensure that a balance of importance is given to the victims of crime.
Amendments to the Victims Rights Act 2001
1. Victims have at least as much right as the offender's whanau and representatives to make submissions to the court on an appropriate sentence. Example barman Jonathan Tolo blinded in one eye and not permitted to make any submission to the court.
2. Victims have a right to ask for name suppression so that the Mr X (Bill Trotter) situation cannot recur where the Court of Appeal found it did not even have jurisdiction to consider his application and appeal.
1. Mental health authorities that failed to advise Susan Baragwanath of the roaming rights of Rarimu gunman Stephen Anderson (30 April 2003), mental authorities who failed to advise police of Barry Ryder's release, the consequences of which were fresh offending reported in February 2003.
2. Authorities who failed to tell Melody Wharerimu of the release of arsonist Renee Rooney who was jointly responsible for the fire that killed Melody's brother Philip Hunt (27 January 2003).
At present the public perception is that parole is being used as a tool to unload prisons, the re-offending rate verifies this view.
Offering families the opportunity to be included in the final legal process of their case will not only give credibility to " the safety of the community" but also give the opportunity to enhance the possibility rehabilitation has been successful.