24 July 2002

Prisons Not A Worthy Investment

Non-violent prisoners should be made to work and repay the financial cost of their crimes rather that waste taxpayers money sitting in jail according to Christian Heritage Party leader Graham Capill.

Mr Capill said the proposed development of prisons around the nation was a defeatist attitude and a waste of taxpayer’s money.

“Only criminals who are convicted of violent crimes or who are a risk to the community should be put in jail,” Mr Capill said.

“Naturally, repeat offenders should be given custodial sentences, but first time offenders of non violent crimes should be made to pay in cash, not time.

“Victim restoration via levies on wages or the sale of assets should be the priority of our justice system.”

Mr Capill also announced that CHP would allow direct representation of victim’s families at parole board hearings.

“In this regard, CHP believes the immediate family of homicide victims should be able to make personal statements to the sentencing judge about the effect the crime has had on them and allow the jury to make sentencing recommendations to the judge.

“We would not support capital punishment for murder unless there are sufficient safeguards including two eyewitnesses and a unanimous jury decision.

“The base of the CHP policy is the introduction of crime prevention measures such as programmes in schools that will promote high ethical standards and personal responsibility,” Mr Capill concluded.

Ends

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