New Zealand Prisons are more like a luxurious getaway. From grocery lists to entertainment, New Zealand prisons aren't strict enough. With improved rations, a broader range of education and extra health care up for grabs do we really consider it prison now or just another place to gain qualifications? Why aren't New Zealand prisons as tough as overseas prisons? I also want to argue the point that we need harsher penalties so the crime fits the time.
Special diets, grocery items, food brought in with written permission; New Zealand’s department of corrections needs to stop treating prison like a resort. Prisoners in New Zealand can receive family prepared meals, as the department of correction states prisoners in New Zealand can have ‘individually purchased grocery items with money that they've earned from working and with a written request they are given the option of having special dietary meals planned for them’. This is special treatment. American prisons serve two meals a day, either half an egg and a slice of bread or a mixture of beans, one meat patty and a slice of bread. No milk was provided and a weak tea is served with their meals. Sean Kerrig, writer for Zerohedge.com stated ‘American prisoners refer to their food as ‘shit on a shingle’ while in New Zealand prisoners get multiple options.
In my opinion I also believe the crime should fit the time. Does the judge/jury giving the sentence know what they’re doing? Have they taken into mind the actions the offender has done? Our crime penalties should change to benefit the victims who suffer. Imposing sentences is one of the most difficult tasks undertaken by a judge. Death penalty in New Zealand was abolished in 1898. As it states on www.infoplease.com countries such as USA, Malaysia, Afghanistan and many more still permit death row for disgusting crimes such as murder, so why don't New Zealand?
Parole in New Zealand is used as a way to get the offenders to better themselves. Why is it that here in New Zealand, offenders such as drug dealers/sex offenders get parole?The department of correction says ‘offenders have home detention which is monitored and with exceptional circumstances they can travel overseas. They have allocated places to live and their parole officer chooses who they can and cannot see. If any of these rules are breached the parole will be cancelled and they’ll go back to prison.
This shows us that New Zealand’s Department of Corrections should treat prison more like a prison and less like a resort. They need to take action and stop treating the prisoners like royalty, giving them special benefits because then what’s really going to stop criminals from acting again? It is time to reform our New Zealand prisons; it’s time to take a stand.
Shannon Iafeta
No comments:
Post a Comment