Archaic attitude to criminal justice dangerous – Dunne

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has labelled a policy to exclude prisoners and other convicted criminals from specialist addiction treatment as ‘archaic’ and ‘dangerous’.

A new Canterbury District Health Board policy will severely limit the ability of prison inmates or other justice clients to access drug and alcohol addiction services.

“Such a decision leaves one scratching their head, it really does. This is just archaic and quite frankly a dangerous policy all round,” said Mr Dunne.

“It is a well-known fact that over 80% of prison inmates have alcohol and drug addictions and that those addictions play a massive role in preventing proper rehabilitation and reintegration back into society.”

“A recidivism rate of nearly 60% within two years of release is proof that we have to change course rapidly.”

“While some may say, fairly legitimately, that this is an argument over human rights, in reality it’s a lot simpler than that; it’s an argument over common-sense and public safety.”

“When we send someone to prison in New Zealand, we must do so in the assumption that one day they will be let out, because they will be, however it’s almost like policy-makers do not want to recognise that fact.”

“What point is there in having a criminal justice system if all it does is recycle criminals back out into our communities?”

“A huge amount of crime in New Zealand is committed by repeat offenders; therefore it must be a priority to provide those people with the opportunity for rehabilitation. Addiction services are an absolute no-brainer.”

“This is a really dumb policy, more in line with what one might expect of the "lock 'em up and throw away the key" brigade than of a supposedly responsible DHB,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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