A Conference for Change

It‘s a growing problem that needs a new solution. As in many countries, the prison population in New Zealand is rising at an alarming rate, increasing 50 percent in the
last eight years. At such a rate, the country may soon be spending more on prisons than on education. And this increase in incarcerations does little for the victims of crime. Offenders are seldom required to make reparations to their victims or the community.

To address this urgent need for a new way to deal with crime and punishment, Prison Fellowship New Zealand organised a groundbreaking conference entitled “Beyond Retribution: Advancing the Law and Order Debate.” At the conference, more than 280 people took part in an informed discussion about criminal justice policies related to sentencing, rehabilitation, imprisonment and the impact of crime on victims. Participants included criminal justice officials, former prisoners, politicians, policy makers, Iwi/Maori and Pacific Peoples, church leaders and community representatives. Ex-prisoners who have benefited from PF programmes also participated in the conference, including 20 members of the Mongrel Mob who spoke of the positive change in their lives since their conversion 10 years ago. Among the political leaders present was a cross-section of Members of Parliament who sit on key committees.

The conference allowed for a unique cross-party forum as representatives from five political parties took part in a panel discussion on the possibility of a unified agreement of new policies and solutions. “As the discussions proceeded, it became clear that political agendas were set aside and a protocol for a multi-party approach to issues of crime and punishment was possible,” said Kim Workman, PF New Zealand Executive Director.

Discussions focused primarily on the role of the community and the concept of restorative justice. Participants agreed that solutions must be geared toward a more effective system of reparation because incarceration typically does little to rehabilitate prisoners and it takes away their ability to support their families. Nearly 30 percent of New Zealand prisoners serve fewer than 3 months in prison. Alternatives to prison sentences for this population would reduce the burden on the prison system and allow for true rehabilitation and reparations to take place. “I think it is time for us to look at options for offenders to pay back their debts to society in a more constructive way,” said Minister of Corrections Damien O‘Connor, in his opening address at the PF conference.

The current problem with victim reparation in which the offender is ordered to repay his/her victim is that the offender often doesn‘t have the income to do so. One of the recommendations made at the PF conference was for such offenders to be ordered to do community work at staterun establishments, where they would earn a minimum hourly rate that would be paid to the victim. “Almost all the key speakers and contributors were supportive of a more imaginative expansion of restorative practices,” says Kim.

Five key mandates were outlined at the conference:

1. Increase public knowledge about prisons
2. Explore more multi-party accords
3. Form a coalition to speak to issues of justice reform
4. Use restorative justice principles
5. Encourage local community involvement

“How do we reduce our imprisonment rate?” asked Minister O‘Connor in his speech to the conference participants. “The answer,” he announced, “is here in this room.” And so, with the help of PF New Zealand‘s landmark conference, political representatives and criminal justice officials have taken an important step toward finding new ways to address crime.