The sixth Labour government, as a part of its oft-repeated intentions of bringing more compassion and empathy in governance, would be extending empathy to criminals and offenders of the worst crimes, by repealing the controversial three strikes law by early next year.
“The three strikes law doesn't work, and will be dismantled next year,” Justice Minister Andrew Little told New Zealand Herald on Wednesday, November 1.
"It's been eight years since this got onto the statute books and it's not making a blind bit of difference. It's time to find something new, something different," Mr Little further added.
There has been a lot of controversy around this law with opinions divided on both sides around its efficacy in making a dent in crime statistics.
Opponents of this controversial law often claim that it is contributing to the fast growth of the prison population, whereas those who support its claim that a repeal of this act would place interests of criminals ahead of those of victims of crime.
The three strikes law officially known as The Sentencing and Parole Reform Act 2010 creates a three-stage system of increasing consequences for repeat serious violent offenders.
There are 40 qualifying offences comprising all major violent and sexual offences with a maximum penalty of seven years or greater imprisonment, including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, sexual violation, abduction, kidnapping, and aggravated robbery.
A first warning is issued when an offender aged 18 or over at the time of a qualifying offence, and who does not have any previous warnings, is convicted of that offence. Once an offender has received a first ‘strike’ warning, it stays on their record for good unless their conviction is overturned.
If that offender is subsequently convicted of another qualifying offence they receive a final warning and, if sentenced to imprisonment, will serve that sentence in full without the possibility of parole.
The first and final warnings will stay on the offender’s record.
However, repealing of this law is not in the Government's 100-day plan.