6. RON MARK (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
When was the home detention scheme introduced in New Zealand, and what changes have been made to the scheme since its inception?
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Acting Minister of Corrections) Link to this
Home detention was introduced in 1993 by the National Government of the time as a trial. It was rolled out in its current form by the National-led Government in 1999. It has had minor amendments since and has recently been subject to a review.
Can the Minister confirm that the policy of back-end home detention, which has allowed prisoners to transfer from prison to home detention, was inherited from a National Government bill passed in 1999?
Yes, I can confirm that this Government inherited a justice system that had been created by three successive National-led Governments, and that today’s current home detention policy is a reflection of the work enshrined in legislation in the 1990s.
Lynne PillayReports show that 99 percent of offenders on home detention do not reoffend when serving the sentence. Furthermore, 98 percent of offenders do not abscond while on home detention. Home detention assists the reintegration and rehabilitation of offenders by allowing things like accommodation, employment, and family relationships to be maintained.
Simon PowerCan the Minister confirm this statement of the general manager of the probation service at the time that home detention was first established: “Only prisoners convicted of non-violent crime would be eligible.”, and what has the Government done since then to allow violent offenders to make up one-quarter of all home detainees—let alone the fact that the combined number of violent, sex, and drug offenders makes up half the number of all home detainees?
Given that the scheme was introduced in 1993, I cannot confirm what the member asks me. But in terms of what this Government has done, next week a bill will be introduced in this House that will abolish back-end home detention.
Can the Minister tell the House whether it is true that the most serious violent and sex offenders who are currently on home detention are there as a result of back-end home detention, which was created by a National Government when it was in power?
Yes, it is true that back-end home detention does allow serious offenders to be moved from prison to home detention. I am aware that New Zealand First as far back as 2002 has held some concerns over the number of serious offenders being granted back-end home detention.
Is it not also true that New Zealand First started highlighting its objection to these happenings in our prisons in 2002, that we continued to do so up to the last election, and that, as a result of the confidence and supply agreement between New Zealand First and Labour, changes are to be made to the home detention scheme; and when will those changes occur?
Yes, I can confirm that, and a new bill will be introduced in this House next week. The new bill will give sentencing judges the power to impose up to 12 months’ home detention on offenders who are a low risk to the community. Back-end home detention will be abolished, with offenders no longer being able to apply for home detention before their parole eligibility date.
Rodney HideI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. This is just a suggestion in the interests of saving time in the House. We have just had an interesting exchange between Mr Ron Mark and the Minister, whereby Mr Ron Mark would stand up and read his carefully scripted question, then the Minister would read his carefully scripted answer, which was presumably prepared by Mr Ron Mark. I think it would be easier if, rather than our going through the charade of questions from New Zealand First to the Government, those members just tabled their questions and answers and we moved on.
Madam SPEAKER