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From: David
Category: Category 1
Date: 24/07/05
Time: 08:03:00
Remote Name: 222.152.234.49
And what would the criteria be for whether a particular issue qualifies for referendum status ? We (the Politicians ) would be arguing for ever and a day if that particular issue struck at the heart or crossed the bows of espoused ideology .
The biggest threat to society today is violence against person and property of citizens . That should be the primary function of any Government in a free society . Can I ask whether you are even a member of Sensible Sentencing Trust ? Rather than let us say Maxim Institute or like concerns. The United Future spokesperson on Law and Order spoke at our last meeting . He was a founding member , with Garth McVicar , of the Sensible Sentencing Trust . Both men impress greatly with their transparent sincerity and passion . Their clear emotion when addressing particularly vicious cases said more for them than a bucketful of political speeches which we hear on the subject every three years .. That emotion was far greater for the victims and their immediate families than mere anger against offenders which anyone can entertain .
I argued that while it was commendable that United Future stressed the need for introducing work schemes and greater educational facilities into the prisons . I feel that it is not enough to just provide those educational facilities but that it should be a condition of Parole that prisoners actually OBTAIN trade certificates or higher education qualifications while in prison . Okay not everybody can become a Greg Newbold . But they can approximate his chosen career substitution. Prisoners on entry would be graded on a scale based on their then literacy or academic past . Given the facilities they would have to be seen to have demonstrably progressed through the scale .They would not be considered for Parole Review until they had achieved sufficient qualifications to take on the outside world . Where there is a will there is a way ! What use releasing ill-prepared prisoners into a hostile outside world ?
Another condition for Parole Review could be putting up a bond for good behaviour for a given period after release to minimise chance of recidivism . Clearly not every prisoner will be able to finance a bond nor find friends when in need to do so . Then let social support groups and the caring churches invest that bit of faith by acting as guarantor or surety for that prisoner . Yes the gamble will be speculative . But that speculative element would be balanced to a degree by their commitment . Okay they will be at risk but that Bond will be just the added incentive if any extra incentive is needed to put their heart and soul into /monitoring that parolee . And what a contribution to their own society they would be making . It will take their every waking moment to monitor their ward .