Stephen Franks Media Release -- Justice

“Hotene is one of the 32% of violent offenders who have gone on to murder rape and rob after serving only two-thirds of their sentence since 1995,” Mr Franks said.

ACT’s tougher conditions would see violent offenders like Hotene serving at least 80 per cent of their sentence before being eligible for strict parole. However, Justice Minister Phil Goff has rejected the idea saying truth in sentencing would prove too costly and result in bigger prison musters. “He refuses to weigh the cost of crime against the cost of prisons,” Mr Franks said.

“I suggest Mr Goff and his soft on crime cabinet colleague Matt Robson (Corrections Minister) should ask each one of the innocent families who have become victims as a result of prisoners being released early, whether the cost-saving has been worth it,” Mr Franks said.. “Instead, Mr Goff and Mr Robson would rather spend taxpayers money experimenting with restorative justice when there is no evidence to show that it works.”

Mr Franks said the Minister of Corrections is failing to ensure there is room in prison if the judge decides Hotene should never be released. “He says he will not build extra prison space, yet his department says much more is needed, even without tougher sentencing.”

“That is why he is pretending so-called home detention is the same as prison. He must satisfy us that it would be unthinkable for Hotene to be allowed to serve any part of his sentence in home detention,” Mr Franks said.

“His Cabinet colleagues would also rather spend $120 million on the West Coast keeping Auckland votes away from the Greens, while doing nothing to show Aucklanders they can expect the tough-on-crime policy they voted for in the referendum,” he said

“I am afraid that this Government is more willing to pander to lobby groups promoting ‘forgive the killer schemes’ instead of ensuring the Hotenes of this world stay behind bars where they can not murder, rape or rob innocent people,” Mr Franks said.

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