Sharples: Young Offenders Serious Crimes Bill

Young Offenders Serious Crimes Bill

Dr PitaSharples

Wednesday 29 March

Mr Speaker - after an hourof family conferencing, I stood before this hardenedoffender - with a rap sheet as long as your arm. He wasangry, violent and unrepentant, and I said "don't you careabout what you've done!".

He shouted "Go to hell". Then ina flash of inspiration I said - "What about your mother?".

At this point, his mother rushed forward and beganhitting her son with her umbrella - tears rolling down herface, saying "You shame me, all your life, you shame me - Ipray for you - you let me down!"

He stood bolt upright -this adult man began to cry "I'm sorry Mum" - I'm sorry Mum- those were the words that began his rehabilitation andhealing - to go on to lead a productive life within societyafter three terms in prison and convictions for twenty-fiveoffences.

Restorative Justice can work.

This MaoriTribunal Restorative Justice Programme began some thirtyyears ago - by chance the local school Principal rang up andsaid "another six of your kids is in trouble - stole fromthe dairy and pinched a Pakeha kids coat. "Are you going todo something about this or should I ring the Police?". No,no, I said - we'll handle it.

So, without knowing what wewere doing, we called a hui - for all six kids, theirparents, the victims (family of the stolen coat), the dairyowner. We all gathered - had a prayer to open, then thecustomary Maori greetings to the parents and families. Andthen sat the six kids up front and each of us had a turntalking to them.

"Jimmy, what are you doing - last yearhaka leader. Now your a thief!", and so on. Hard words, kindwords. At the end we gave the parents a cup of tea anddecided that the kids should work up at the pensionervillage for four Saturday mornings - supervised by us.

Itworked that first time, the second, then third - then theschool's started sending cases to us, then the Police, thenJudge Mick Brown heard of it and he started referring casesfrom the court.

The family conferences worked because theoffenders were made to be responsible to the members oftheir own community, because they admitted guilt - hadremorse. It worked because the parents and loved ones werethere - and official departments were absent or at aminimum.

Judge Brown used these experiences when hedesigned the Family Group Conferences for our courts. ThenAustralia adopted them.

Mr Speaker, the Maori Party cannot support a Bill that sends twelve year olds toprison.

Mr Speaker, I have spent much time in my life -working with those behind bars. Youth institutions, Men'sprisons, Women's prisons, Maximum security, Medium security,old and new, and with D Block inmates.

I have been part ofseveral initiatives, which have set up programmes for rehaband for learning etc - many of these are still runningtoday!

Mr Speaker, prisons do not work. They do notrehabilitate. There are alternatives which I intend to talkto at length at some later opportunity - but to say herethat the culture of our prisons directly conflicts withprogrammes of healing, of rehabilitation.

There exists, inMen's prisons a set of relationships which dominates everyinmates activities, especially at times conflict orincidents. Nobody is outside of this matrix. In women'sprisons - the structure is even more rigid - with the motheror 'King Pin' and her attendants ruling the roost andgoverning behaviour amongst all inmates.

Mr Speaker, theMaori Party has no interest in the industry of creatingschools for baby crims; of teaching our teenagers how toincite terror within their communities; of adding further tothe painful programme of punishment this Government seeks tohand out.

We believe in the potential for good.

Webelieve whanau are best able to determine their ownsolutions.

We are committed to a system based on justicethat heals rather than justice that hammers. A system whichmust celebrate and actively engage all members in thepursuit of collectively owning the people and the problemsdaily life can bring.

In thinking through the implicationsof a children's prison - it would seem that jail for twelveyear olds will just create schools of crime, where young,fertile minds are exploited, where the rules and rigid rolesof the game are used as a training programme forcrime.

The Maori Party says this system is wrong. ThisBill is wrong. It is, as Children's Commissioner Cindy Kirostated, 'knee-jerk law-marking".

Instead of looking totarget the people that Ron Mark describes as 'young thugswho bash people on the street'; we must look to ways toreduce offending, to rehabilitate youth - not set them on alife of crime.

The Maori Party believes that the FamilyGroup Conference may need a review - but that with thecorrect persons present, it is still a positive plan forsaving young people and for safeguarding ourcommunities.

For these reasons, the Maori Party willoppose the Youth Offenders Serious OffendingBill.

ENDS

THIS ISSUE Lead NZ News NZ Politics World News FeaturesNew Zealand Politics

POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS: Transtasman Political Letter -- 23 March Digest The Letter -- Monday, 27 March 2006 Molesworth & Featherston (Weekend) -- March 25 2006

Welfare: Super Supersized - "People receiving New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension will be better off by up to $420 extra a year," Social Development and Employment Minister David Benson-Pope and Associate Minister for Senior Citizens, Winston Peters, announced today. New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pensions will increase by 3.16% from 1 April 2006 following the increase in the cost of living for 2005, as measured by the Consumers Price Index. See... 490,000 older New Zealanders to benefit from Super increases ALSO:NZ First - New Zealand First Delivers on Super for SeniorsNZ First - Peters Speech - "Preparing For A Golden Age" Also on April 1NZ Govt - Tax Relief: Three in four families eligibleNZ Govt - 1 April marks new era for student loansNZ Govt - 1 April tax changes positive for business

One Law for All: Microchipping debate goes to the dogs - Farmers will not give up the fight to convince the government to exempt farm dogs from an idiotic law forcing all dogs to be microchipped, said Charlie Pedersen, President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc). "Federated Farmers is very disappointed. Despite the federation offering many compelling reasons why farm dogs should be exempted, the government has chosen to base its policy on cliches and soundbites," Mr Pedersen said. See... Government Blows Opportunity ALSO:Scoop: PM's presser - Blair, Chipping Dogs And Rodney HideFederated Farmers - Farmers Consider OptionsFederated Farmers - Federation Supports Bids To Scrap ChippingNational - Anderton fails the test over farm dog microchippingNational - Anderton a lame duck over farm dog microchippingMaori Party - Flavell: Notice of MotionUnited Future - Copeland: Microchipping decision shortsightedUnited Future - Copeland launches bid to scrap farm dog microchippingKennel Club - Licensing dog owners the best solutionCouncil of Docked Breeds - Common sense abandoned as the chips fly!

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POLITICAL COLUMNSCelebrating Families (Judith Collins): 28 March 2006Newman Weekly: Lowering the BarMarc my Words: Tax - a state sponsored muggingwww.mccully.co.nz 24 March 2006 Heather Roy's Diary - 24 March 2006Gerry: In the House - 24 March 2006Plain English - 24 March 2006The Mapp Report 17 March 2006Newsworthy: Claims by prisoners soar

SCOOP WAS IN THE HOUSE:Questions And Answers - Thursday 23 March 2006Questions And Answers - Wednesday 22 March 2006Questions And Answers - Tuesday 21 March 2006

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