Abolitionist Demands 31: Establish presumptive parole guidelines that will facilitate the release of prisoners at their first parole eligibility date, unless they are charged with a new criminal offence while serving their sentence.

This is a part of No Pride in Prisons’ Abolitionist demands. These demands were originally published as a book. To see a pdf of the book, click here. To buy a copy, please email info@noprideinprisons.org.nz

Since the 1990’s, the efforts of penal populist lobbying groups such as the Sensible Sentencing Trust have made it far more difficult for prisoners to get parole.[1] This has, in part, enabled the current overcrowding crisis in New Zealand’s prisons. This overcrowding has led to prisonersfacing increasing physical violence,[2] and has led to policies such as double-bunking, which has in turn led to trans prisoners being raped.[3]

This is a serious issue which demands immediate remedy. No Pride in Prisons calls for the implementation of presumptive parole guidelines, which have incarcerated people released after their minimum sentence has been served, unless they are charged with a new offence while serving their sentence. The implementation of these guidelines would reduce time served by prisoners, allowing them to engage in non-carceral rehabilitation much sooner. Further, it would reduce overcrowding, which would improve existing prisoners’ welfare through reducing the social harms that overcrowding inflicts on them.

Strict parole and probation policies are at the root of the overcrowding crisis in New Zealand prisons. Recognising the incredible harm that overcrowding brings with it, No Pride in Prisons demands the implementation of presumptive parole guidelines in order to reduce New Zealand’s ballooning prison population.

[1] Sensible Sentencing Trust, “SST Achievements,” Sensible Sentencing Trust, 22 March 2016. http://sst.org.nz/about-us/our-acheivements/.

[2] Talia Shadwell, “‘Anarchic’ Mt Eden is New Zealand’s Roughest Prison, Figures Show,” Stuff, 24 July 2015. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/70498362/Anarchic-Mt-Eden-%20%09is-New-Zealands-roughest-prison-figures-show.

[3] Russell Blackstock, “Jail Attack Inmate Transgender,” NZ Herald, 3 October 2015. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11523403.

Abolitionist Demands