Media Release

31 July 2007

Corrections Changes a No-Brainer – Mark

Changes in the Department of Corrections’ approach to prisoner behaviour and rehabilitation announced today have been welcomed today by New Zealand First spokesperson Ron Mark, who said that the Minister has finally taken on board what New Zealand First have been advocating for 14 years.

“I have seen the carrot and stick approach of rewards and sanctions work successfully in federal prisons in the United States for many years,” said Mr Mark.

“While opinion on the methods employed by the likes of Sherrif Joe Arpaio with his tent city in Arizona differ considerably, the introduction of a scaled set of rewards for ‘good behaviour’ and work has to be no-brainer, and it is difficult to see why it has taken successive governments this long to figure this one out.

“New Zealand First hopes that now Corrections will make it known to prisoners that if they break the rules and behave irresponsibly, the removal of privileges and introduction of sanctions will be swift and consistent.

“But by the same token, the introduction of an increasing range of privileges and access to rehabilitation for those who make the decision to play by the rules is a solid foundation for re-integration and a reduction in re-offending, and may well prove to be more successful than the psychobabble courses that have proven so abysmally ineffective in the past,” concluded Mr Mark.

ENDS

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