Support for justice reform
Kiwis trust the police to do a good job but have less confidence in prisons and courts, according to Ministry of Justice studies.
Two new reports reveal New Zealanders want to see change in the justice sector and support a funded, victim-centric approach.
The reports show the public is divided on whether crime is a choice but believe offenders can go on to lead productive lives with the right support.
In 2018, the Government established the Ha¯paitia te Oranga Tangata – Safe and Effective Justice initiative to guide a transformation of the criminal justice system.
Ministry of Justice sector deputy secretary Tim Hampton said the results of the Social Wellbeing and Perceptions of the Criminal Justice System survey and the Ha¯paitia Te Oranga Tangata survey would shed light on areas where the system could be improved.
One of the key findings was a perception that victims’ interests should come first. ‘‘Last year out of every $100 spent in the criminal justice system, 50 cents was spent on supporting victims. What we see in these reports is a strong theme that we need to do more than that.’’
Most people believed the police and groups that supported victims were doing a good job.
However, they have lesspositive views of the other components of the criminal justice system – judges, juries, probation officers, criminal lawyers, the prison service, and juries.
Ma¯ ori lacked confidence in the system.
Pacific peoples and Indian New Zealanders were more concerned about being the victim of a crime than other New Zealand adults, while Ma¯ ori and Pacific peoples were less likely to agree that New Zealanders were treated fairly by the police, he said.
The Social Wellbeing and Perceptions of the Criminal Justice System survey was based on data from interviews last year with
8000 people about their experiences and perceptions of crime.
The Ha¯paitia Te Oranga Tangata survey used data from a random sample, an online survey
(3294 responses) and a random sample survey (1310 responses).
It found an overwhelming majority of respondents wanted transformation in the justice system.