Joy, not anger, at effective three strikes law
Before I get into the story, check out these stats
The Sentencing and Parole Reform Act 2010, or the “three strikes act”, came into force on June 1, 2010.
It meant any offender aged 18 or over who committed one of 40 offences, including all major and sexual offences, would receive a strike on their first conviction.
A second strike would see the offender serving their full sentence without parole.
On a third strike, a judge must impose the maximum penalty.
It must be served without parole unless the court believes that would be manifestly unjust.
By the end of last month there were 2684 offenders on their first strike and 17 on their second strike.
If that doesn’t show that the law is working just fine, I don’t know what does. Clearly, most scumbags “get the point” after their first strike. Only 17, less than 1% of “strike” offenders are stupid enough to give it another go.
The whole point of the law was to provide a motivation mechanism, and from where I’m sitting, the motivation not to get a 3rd strike is very strong.
Right, now that’s out of the way, let’s see what the crybabies have to say. Also remember that Labour, Greens and the Maori party were vehemently against this law.
