‘Hot tub’ four float ideas to help improve Kiwi justice
TWO figures with opposing views on the justice system have agreed on a new type of rehabilitative court.
Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar voiced his support for defence lawyer Greg King’s ‘‘management court’’ at a debate about the justice system at Victoria University last night.
‘‘What we’re doing is not working, we all know that so ultimately we’ve got to try something else,’’ Mr McVicar told the audience of more than 100.
The pair were joined by fellow members of the Justice Hot Tub – lawyer Stephen Franks and Gil Elliott, father of murdered Dunedin woman Sophie Elliott.
Mr King spoke about a recent trip to the United States where he explored aspects of their criminal justice system.
He outlined his case for a new type of problem-solving court, called a management court, which would take a holistic approach and include options to rehabilitate offenders through several agencies.
Present attempts to rehabilitate criminals were ‘‘superficial’’ – laws needed to be changed and people needed to engage in programmes and report back to judges, who would impose sanction for breaches rather than continuing to clog the country’s prisons with low-level criminals, Mr King said.
‘‘Research shows that you don’t have to be motivated to be able to rehabilitate. Keep prisons for the Clayton Weatherstons and others, but not for everyone.’’
Mr King helped defend Weatherston, who was found guilty of murdering Sophie Elliott.
Mr Elliot agreed, but said: ‘‘Prison is there for punishment and it is actually there for public safety, we have to remember that . . . we do not want these people out in society causing more mayhem.’’
The issue of an offender’s right to silence during a jury trial was also debated vigorously.
Mr McVicar said the system was ‘‘offender-friendly’’ and he wanted defendants to give evidence.
Mr King told the audience judges al-