Newly Formed Justice Coalition Seeks Closer Relationship with Government

One of the primary goals of the newly formed Justice Coalition is to achieve a closer working relationship with Justice Sector government agencies, says Kim Workman, spokesperson for the group.

Eleven major Justice Sector NGO’s have formally agreed work more closely in pursuit of a progressive criminal justice system. Known as the Justice Coalition, the membership consists of Victim Support, Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Trust, Salvation Army, Restorative Justice Aotearoa, Community Law Centres of Aotearoa, New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform Inc, Henwood Trust, National Coalition of Howard Leagues, Robson Hanan Trust (Rethinking Crime and Punishment) The National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, and Prison Fellowship New Zealand.

“The government’s Action Plan to Reduce Crime and Reoffending acknowledges the important role that the community has in crime reduction”, said Sue Wood, Chairperson, Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Trust. “The combined networks of the Justice Coalition will contribute to the relationship between community and government agencies”.

Heather Henare of Women’s Refuge sees the Justice Coalition as a vehicle that will inform government agencies of activity across the justice sector. “Unlike the broader social services sector, Justice Sector NGO’s have often operated in a vacuum. Our first task will be to find ways to work more closely with government.

Paul O’Neill of the National Coalition of Howard Leagues, regards the diversity of Coalition members as a strength. “Some members are primarily service providers; some have a public education or advocacy focus, and some are involved in policy and research. We have a collective interest in criminal justice research, victims issues, evidence –based programmes and policies, contracted service provision, public education, and human rights. Together, we bring a collective and unique voice to the justice dialogue. At the end of the day, we all want a just, fair and equitable criminal justice system.

Greg Fortuin, spokesperson for Prison Fellowship , and former Race Relations Conciliator, said that though diverse, the Coalition has agreed on a common objective. “We seek a better New Zealand - a nation that places the real needs of victims at the heart of justice processes; that refuses to incarcerate its citizens at anything like current rates; that recognises the profound damage caused to entire communities by inter-generational criminality and criminal labelling; and that, avoiding simplistic knee-jerk reactions, seeks to understand and respond effectively to the complex causes of crime.”

Kim Workman said that the Coalition would shortly meet to identify key projects for the next year. We intend to present a united voice on criminal justice issues, and engage with government agencies in the development of policies and strategies
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