Three strikes 'means nothing to lose'
Jun 02, 2010
from Paul Easton's article in The Dominion Post:
He has visited more than 1000 jails but Rimutaka Prison's container cells were a first for a visiting expert, who says locking up criminals for life will spark violence.
The Prison Fellowship International president Ronald Nikkel, from Canada, was in Wellington this week, after the Sentencing and Parole Reform Act, or "three strikes" law, was passed.
....Locking away criminals for life would only spark violence from prisoners with nothing to lose, Dr Nikkel said. "It's an end-product of this public hysteria, that we have to see justice done. It becomes a security issue – these people have no hope for the end of their sentence. What have they got to lose?"
Yesterday, at Upper Hutt's Rimutaka Prison, he saw cells made this year from converted shipping containers. "I've never encountered anything like that before." However, he said they were OK if they had proper ventilation and light.
The three-strikes law includes a graduated sentencing scale for 40 serious violent offences. A third conviction will bring the maximum sentence for that offence with no parole.
Prison Fellowship International focused on restorative justice, Dr Nikkel said. "I have yet to meet a monster and I've visited death row." He has been to more than 1000 prisons worldwide in 35 years.
Note: Restorative Justice Online is a programme of Prison Fellowship International.
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If human being lose a hope He will lose humanity very soon. Giving hope is valueing humanity and restoring person. Opressiv law forgot about this. Three Strike Law is not for human beings, it is primitive reaction with sad cast long shaddow. <br />