Mission Statement and Goals

Victims before criminals - When a conflict of interests arises between the rights of a victim and a criminal, the victims rights takes precedence even when, in its fulfillment, the rights of the criminal may not only be ignored but actively infringed upon.

Justice before legalism - The law should stand to serve justice not hinder it. If the mere application of law undermines apparent justice, then the legal principle should be considered subservient to the dictates of justice.

Victims of crime eligible for legal aid assistance to pursue justice.

A complete overhaul of the criminal justice system - The justice system to be predicated on the three prioritized goals of crime reduction and prevention; siding with victims of crime and the law-abiding; and the re-instatement of punishment, shame, and retribution as legitimate means to deter re-offending.

Assets of those punishable by imprisonment for a term of three years or longer are to be seized for victim support unless proven to be lawfully obtained.

Everyone accused and charged of crime will have a limited right to legal aid - those found guilty will have the full cost of their legal aid bill as a debt to be paid and/or worked off during their prison term except and unless, they have plead guilty.

Fundamental changes to the criminal justice system to be assented by referendum.

Opinion

Crime has become the scourge of modern times - a problem dealt with poorly by those in positions of authority, and a crucible of failed experiments in rehabilitation. While criminal advocates, not only those within the legal profession but the behavioural apologists, guards, and so-called treatment providers all have a financial stake, it is the victim who has been left out of much consideration. Largely perhaps because there is less money to be made out of it as any comparison of the budget between say, legal aid and victim support might attest.

And it isn't as if the public has stayed silent on the issue.

The referendum at the 1999 New Zealand General Election resulted in a 92 per cent vote in favour of reform of the New Zealand justice system. A study of the referendum results shows that of the 92 per cent who voted in favour of reform, 93 per cent wanted our justice system to place a greater emphasis on the needs of victims, while 81 per cent wanted it to provide restitution and compensation for victims. Just over three-quarters (78 per cent) demanded a reform of our justice system, 72 per cent wanted hard labour imposed for all serious violent offenders, and 68 per cent wanted minimum sentences for all serious violent offences.

Our decision-makers are deaf. It is they who must be made accountable for their negligence in doing what must be done to secure our safety with laws that make sense - backed up by a well resourced justice system that embodies the interests of victims and the law-abiding as its reason for being.

If you also believe that we must change our response to crime, then we extend our warmest welcome and invite you to support, and use this website.

Crime is a choice - what we do about it is also a choice.

This weeks opinion comes from Marc Alexander, author of 'Justice with Both Eyes Open"; former deputy chair of the Law & Order Select committee; and Crime prevention spokesperson for the Sensible Sentencing Trust.