The Minister is Right and I apologise, says Kim Workman

“The Minister of Corrections is right when she says that I failed to make it clear that the recidivism statistics from the 2009/10 Corrections Annual Report referred to prisoners released in the 2007/08 financial year.” said Kim Workman, of Rethinking Crime and Punishment. “ That was a mistake, but not a deliberate one. I apologise for it.“ Refer to the Minister’s press release at: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1106/S00298/kim-workman-wrong-about-recidivism-rates.htm

“Rethinking Crime and Punishment believes it important to get good evidence-based, information into the public arena, so that the public are fully informed. That is why, when Radio NZ reporter Tim Graham asked me to comment on the Minister’s view that dropping prison numbers were due in part to a reducing prisoner recidivism rate, I had no option but to provide the only available information, which showed that the prisoner recidivism rate has increased. If the Minister has more recent information which shows that the prisoner recidivism rate is dropping, then it would be helpful if she published it.”

“The Minister has now accused me of making a cheap political point. There is no need for me to do that - I am not a politician. What Rethinking does have to do, is tell the truth.”

“The Minister has asked why I didn’t talk about the government’s investment in prison rehabilitation. That wasn’t the question I was asked by the media. For the record, we support the government’s increased commitment to in-prison rehabilitation . We would however, prefer to see that resource going into community based rehabilitation programmes, as they cost less and are more effective. “

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