Editorial: High costs to three strikes plan

OPINION: It's a law that will probably be welcomed by a large majority, but the Government's "Three Strikes Max" policy will cost taxpayers more and more in the long term.

Under the legislation, offenders convicted of a third serious offence will receive the maximum jail term with no parole.

The move, while greeted with applause by hardliners and Sensible Sentencing Trust supporters, has been rubbished in Taranaki by Crown and defence lawyers alike.

Tim Brewer, Taranaki's predominantly conservative Crown solicitor, spoke out strongly about the new law, describing it as taking "an automatic approach" to sentencing that would not fit some offenders.

The reaction from the other side of the court was even more dismissive, with high-profile defence lawyer Susan Hughes QC saying the proposal had little chance of limiting violent offending, the legislation's supposed purpose.

Ms Hughes went on to describe the law as nothing more than the "ambulance at the bottom of the cliff."

While that is probably true, the legislation will be welcomed by victims of serious crime who would feel secure in the knowledge the offender responsible for changing their lives will be behind bars for longer.

Perhaps the most telling remark from Taranaki's bar came from experienced defence man Julian Hannam, who pointed out that an alcohol or drug fuelled offender is not going to stop and think about the consequences of their actions.

The biggest problem with the change of policy will be most felt in the nation's courtrooms, however, where the backlog and waiting times for trials have reached almost comical proportions.

A perfect example of the slow progress is the high- profile Taranaki case that sees a number of Black Power gang members awaiting trial for the alleged murder of New Plymouth man Peri Niwa. Mr Niwa was found dead in New Plymouth in November, 2008. The trial has been set for April, 2010.

There is simply no way an offender under the three strikes system will plead guilty when facing a genuine life sentence.

Criminologist Greg Newbold also made a telling statement last week when he pointed out that prison staff would also find it increas-ingly difficult to manage offenders who have no chance of being released.

In a Corrections Department that has faced increasing problems in the past year, and had staffing issues, the legislation is unlikely to be welcomed.

The cost of housing more offenders for longer will, in the end, be the greatest drain that will see the taxpayer footing larger and larger bills for no return.

- © Fairfax NZ News