Parole

The newish leader of the National Party recently announced a new Law and Order policy. Don Brash, possibly NZ's next PM is taking populist stands on just about everything, appealing to a narrowing of NZ opinion. The law and order policies are to eliminate Parole for violent offenders and increase jail terms with 2 billion being spent on housing an additional 3000 law breakers. Current prison population is about 6000. The cost to the taxpayer of living in a crime free world is already greater than what is spent on it. Will increasing prison populations have the effect of reducing crime or is that a false assumption?

But the elimination of parole will make matters worse for those caught in the new dragnet, those not guilty of major larceny or violence who will come under the forceful eyes of "top dogs" - unofficial ranks of priosoners usually equating to factors such as severity of crime or connections to organised crime.

With increased exposures to malign influences, reintegration of the mild criminal is made less likely.