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Home Detention Outrage

NZ First MP Ron Mark said home detentions sends out the wong message about punishment for Class A drugs.

His argument assumes that in the case of Darren McDonald favour was given to the pretty boy from the right side of town. Mark opposes home detention for drug supply convictions making his own broad distinction between the treatment of gang members and white collar workers.

The thing is that gang members are also given diversions if it is applicable. White collar workers also go to jail. Addicts who may be victimised in jail because of the nature of their work should be diverted from overcrowded jails if that is the best thing to do in the case at hand.

Mark's self righteous stand is reactionary and likely to rouse a few angry voices in support but it makes more sense to cure those with a curable disease. Putting addicts into prisons is a sure fire way to set them up for a life of dependence of and support of criminal connections available in prisons as a free offer with most drug deals.

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