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Criminal & traffic law

Sentencing: The judge’s decision about punishment

The “three strikes” law for repeated serious violent offending

Sentencing Act 2002, ss 86A-86I

The “three strikes” law is a strict law that can lead to unjust outcomes. The law says that if you are convicted of a third serious violent offence, then you must be given the maximum penalty for that offence without parole. You must have been given warnings by the judge when you were sentenced for each of the earlier serious violent offences.

The maximum penalty without parole rule does not apply where it would be “manifestly unjust”. The courts have said that means very substantial hardship.

“Serious violent offences” include, for example, sexual violation, murder, manslaughter, wounding with intent to injure, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated burglary and committing a crime with a firearm.

When you’re convicted of the first serious violent offence, you must be given a warning by the judge about the possible consequences of more serious offending. If you are convicted of another serious violent offence (not including murder), then the law says you must be given a “final” warning. These warnings can be written or spoken and do not need to be in a particular format or words.

If you have been convicted of murder before and are convicted of murder again, then the law says you must be sentenced to life in prison without parole (unless not having parole would be “manifestly unjust”). When the courts consider what is “manifest injustice”, they have looked at factors that reduce accountability for example, youth or a guilty plea.

They take into account both the circumstances of the offending and the situation of the offender when determining whether there will be manifest injustice. A guilty plea alone will not make a sentence manifestly unjust.

Case example: Third strike rule is “manifestly unjust”

[2020] NZCA 292

F was charged with indecent assault and common assault for trying to kiss a woman walking down a city street. He then grabbed and pushed the woman’s friend who tried to stop him. F had many mental health conditions and had two previous convictions for indecent assault in public places which were classed as serious violent offences.

Under the three strikes law he would get the maximum sentence of seven years. F asked for a discharge without conviction (to try and avoid getting a third conviction and so escape the three strikes rule). The case was heard by the Court of Appeal.

The court said that the offending was not serious enough to justify imprisonment at all, let alone a seven year term. His mental health state made a seven year prison sentence “disproportionately severe”. Under the Bill of Rights Act F had the right not to be subjected to disproportionately severe punishment and so this was manifestly unjust. They said there should be a safety valve to allow a court to impose a less severe sentence where the maximum sentence would be manifestly unjust. The court didn’t agree whether he should be given a discharge without conviction.

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The criminal courts

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Ministry of Justice

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The Ministry of Justice website has a range of pamphlets and other information on topics covered in this chapter. You can access this information online, or you can order hardcopies of the pamphlets from:

Phone: 0800 587 847
Email: publications@justice.govt.nz

Fines

Ministry of Justice Collections Unit – www.justice.govt.nz/fines

Phone: 0800 4 FINES (0800 434 637)
From overseas: +64 4 915 8586
From Australia: 1800 144 239 (toll free)

You can check or pay your fines by phone or online. The website has information about both infringement fines and court-imposed fines, and about reparations. The website also has information about District Court Collections Units.

Department of Internal Affairs – www.passports.govt.nz/what-you-need-to-renew-or-apply-for-a-passport/before-you-travel/

This webpage has information about paying your fines to avoid being stopped at the border.

Phone: 0800 PAYORSTAY (0800 729 677)

“Giving evidence” (Law Society pamphlet)

www.lawsociety.org.nz/about-us/about-our-publications/law-awareness-brochures

This pamphlet is for people who have to give evidence in court as a witness.

You can order hardcopies from the New Zealand Law Society:

Phone: (04) 472 7837
Email: pamphlets@lawsociety.org.nz

Department of Corrections

www.corrections.govt.nz

This website has information:

for offenders

for family and friends of offenders

about the Department of Corrections’ role in the community, including community work, supervision, home detention, and the role of probation officers

about the New Zealand Parole Board.

Victim Notification Register

www.corrections.govt.nz/information_for_victims/victim_notification_register

This page on the Department of Corrections website has information about the victim notification register including, the process, how to apply, information victims can receive and how to make a complaint.

Restorative Practices Aotearoa

www.restorativejusticeaotearoa.org.nz

This website provides information on when Restorative Justice may be appropriate, and where in New Zealand Restorative Justice is available. You can also make an enquiry about Restorative Justice by filling out a form on their website.

Phone: 0800 RJA INC (0800 752 462)

Victim Support

www.victimsupport.org.nz

Victim Support provides 24-hour support services to help New Zealanders rebuild their lives following a trauma or crisis.

Phone: 0800 842 846
Email: nationaloffice@victimsupport.org.nz

Victims Information

www.victimsinfo.govt.nz

This is the website of the government’s “Victims Centre”. The site provides links to a range of services available to help victims deal with the practical and emotional effects of the crime, at each stage of the criminal and youth justice process.

Phone: 0800 650 654

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