USA Judge gives child abuser 160 years

Judge William Carpenter sentenced serial child abuser to 160 years saying he would never harm a child again, the Sensible Sentencing Trust says New Zealand need similar sentences if we are to ever get on top of child abuse.

SST comments come at a time Children’s Commissioner Russell Wills says attitudes about violence towards women and children must change following a report that found that a child is admitted to a New Zealand hospital every second day with injuries arising from either assault, neglect or maltreatment.

The Founder of SST, Garth McVicar, believes that attitude change will never happen while legislation is allowing many offenders to hide their identity and convictions and Judges are giving pitiful sentences.

“While I agree attitudes must change that change will need to be encouraged and driven by a combination of legislation to prohibit name suppression for child abusers, and an attitude change from Judges when sentencing offenders who abuse children.”

“Judge Carpenter by giving a 160 year sentence understood that a child’s safety was a Judge’s paramount responsibility and he obviously wanted to send a message to other offenders and wider society that child abuse would not be tolerated.”

“The mamby-pamby treatment of child abusers in New Zealand has aggravated the problem and is largely responsible for New Zealand’s appalling child abuse figures.”

ENDS

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