Dilemmas of the Alternative to Custody Concept: Implications for New Zealand Penal Policy in the Light of International Evidence and Experience

• NCJ Number: 108603
• Journal: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1987) Pages: 148-162
• Author(s): J Pratt
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

Penal policy in New Zealand is examined in terms of legislative reforms, reasons for reform failures, and the effects and consequences of policies designed to establish community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

Abstract

These policies fail, first, because of insufficiently developed program rationales, inappropriately selected groups, professional resistance to attempts at reform, the development of insufficient and narrowly conceived services and agencies, and placement of programs in inappropriate settings. One of the most fundamental problems in New Zealand penal policy remains the failure to reduce the prison population, despite the provision of sentences to do so. New sentencing programs have resulted in these existing along side custodial programs. Thus, the overall effect has been net-widening. Current policy should aim to halt all new prison buildings and redistribute resources on community-based projects. 14 footnotes and 48 references.