David Farrar: The new three strikes law is now operative

The new three strikes law is now operative. It is not as strong as I wanted, but still should lead to the worst criminals not getting out so quickly.

There are 43 offences (serious violent and sexual) that can cause a strike. How the strikes work:

David Farrar: Arguably the most important NZ Initiative report

NZ Initiative Chair Roger Partridge has written an excellent report, called Who Makes the Law?

It deals with how the Supreme Court has gone from interpreting law to making law, and how we can change this.

If I could pick any one report for Parliament to act on, then this would be the report out of the many good ones they have done. It is about fundamental democracy.

David Farrar: Three Strikes law slightly improved.....

Three Strikes law slightly improved but still unlikely to be an effective deterrent

Nicole McKee announced:

The Government is listening to New Zealanders and Cabinet has agreed to recommend modifications to the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.

David Farrar: Zero strikers

 Zero striker # 1 - Ranapera Taumata

His three strikes are:

Peter Dunne:

There would be few who would disagree with the approach to sentencing taken by Justice Cameron Mander in the tragic Lauren Dickason case.

Justice Mander effectively bypassed the jury’s decision that Dickason was guilty of the murder of her three infant daughters, with his comment that ““I am satisfied that your actions were the product of your mental disorder. I consider your severe depression dominated your mental process. Not just contributed to your actions but drove them.” In sentencing Dickason to three concurrent sentences of 18 years, with no minimum parole period, the Judge was rejecting the argument that she was guilty of cold-blooded murder. In practical terms, that means Dickason will be eligible for parole after six years.

David Farrar: This is why we need Three Strikes

The Herald reports:

A woman was dragged naked from her Raglan home before her partner poured a jug of boiling hot water over her, leaving with her burns to 12 per cent of her body and some of her skin peeling off.

But the victim’s pain didn’t end there, as her surgical treatment involved the burned area being debrided – in which the skin was removed and dressed – as she recovered in Waikato Hospital.

David Farrar: Some three strikes data

1st strikers

• 55% of 1st strikers were sentenced to less than 2 years imprisonment (or no imprisonment)
• 20% of 1st strikers were sentenced to 2 – 3 years imprisonment
• 25% of 1st strikers were sentenced to more than 3 years imprisonment

David Farrar: The new Three Strikes law may lead to shorter sentences

Heather DPA writes:

This morning I was listening to the radio, and I was quite shocked when I heard Labour’s Justice Spokesperson, Duncan Webb, talking about the Three Strikes Law.

He said judges and lawyers hate it so much, they will find ways around it so they don’t have to implement it.

David Farrar: Three Strikes saw lower reoffending

Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017:

In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’.

In the five years prior to three strikes, 5517 people were convicted of an offence where that conviction would have been a ‘first strike’ had three strikes been in force at the time, and 103 were convicted of an offence that would have been a ‘second strike’.

Cam Slater: Labour – The Party for Crims

While the Government moves to honour an election promise by introducing legislation to bring back the Three Strikes laws, Labour is hell-bent on proving that they are the party for the criminal classes in New Zealand.

John MacDonald: The Government is playing placebo politics

Have you ever heard of a placebo policy? That’s what this Three Strikes law is, and I don’t think bringing it back is going to make one bit of difference.

You’ll know what a placebo is when it comes to things like clinical trials where they give someone a sugar pill but tell them it’s medicine, and the person says ‘oh I feel much better, thanks’.

David Farrar: A weak Three Strikes law

The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today.

The return is welcome in principle, but what is being proposed is actually pretty weak and even ineffective.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Critics of Three Strikes law are missing the point

As promised the government's bringing back the Three Strikes law.

The Prime Minister and the Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today it’ll be in Cabinet by mid-year.

And they’re changing it just a wee bit. 

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 22/4/24

The media were given a little list and hastened to pick out Fast Track prospects – but the Treaty aspect is fascinating, too

The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts.

News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop released the list of the organisations which had been advised on how to apply for consideration under the Fast-Track Approvals Bill.