Since Gavin Hawthorn was sent to prison for ten years in 2003, over 5,000 people have died on New Zealand roads - at an average of 360 a year. That's almost one a day. Commentators calling for him to be sent to prison again are missing the point.
Read MoreIts not the justice system that's broken - its the political system
The Justice Advisory Board appointed by Andrew Little says it will take a generation to transform the system. So with New Zealand's three year election cycle, Little needs to get on with it
Read MoreGluckman: chief science advisor says the NZ media have been flogging fake news for 20 years
The chief science advisor to the Prime Minister has just issued a damning commentary on the way in which the media presents 'information' about crime and punishment in New Zealand
Read MoreExplaining NZ's record high prison population
The prison population has hit 10,000 - an all-time high. 56% of these inmates are Maori - another all time high. What's going on?
Read MoreQualified addiction counsellors not wanted in NZ prisons
Up to 90% of prison inmates have problems with substance abuse and addiction. But Corrections does not require the counsellors who provide rehabilitation programmes for them to have a graduate degree in the assessment and treatment of addictive disorders. In fact, they don't even need a degree - just a qualification.
Read MoreWhy Bill English booted Collins off Corrections
In many respects, Judith Collins has been the worst Minister of Justice and Corrections New Zealand has ever had. She had to go – even if that changes absolutely nothing about how the country deals with the drivers of crime or the growing prison population. And it won't.
Read MoreBill English admits his Government is a 'moral and fiscal failure'
New Zealand has fallen prey to penal populism: our prison population is at an all time high – driven by victims rights groups and the public's moral panic over violent crime
Read MoreCorrections should get rid of all 2,500 volunteers
If the Government was serious about reducing re-offending, the Corrections Department would pay for professional reintegration services instead of relying on well meaning volunteers like Ngapari Nui
Read MoreWhy Corrections prevented Tony Robertson from getting treatment in prison
Tony Robertson has a lot in common with Graeme Burton, William Bell & the Beast of Blenheim. They were all serious high risk offenders – but none of them got to attend a rehabilitation programme in prison
Read MoreThe Ombudsman, Corrections and 'unnatural deaths' in prison
A letter written by the Chief Ombudsman reveals disturbing questions about its relationship with the Corrections Department
Read MoreThe drink driver's a bloody idiot - but his judges are clearly insane
An alcoholic 58 year old man with twenty convictions for drink driving has been disqualified indefinitely but keeps getting his licence back.
Read MoreOmbudsman: Arthur Taylor & segregated prisoners subject to cruel inhuman treatment
The Ombudsman has released a highly criticial report into the eight month segregation of Arthur Taylor in Auckland prison. Dame Beverley Wakem says the conditions for segregated prisoners "could be described as cruel and inhuman for the purposes of the UN Convention against Torture"
Read More80% of countries use torture – New Zealand is one
The Corrections Department removes opiate pain killers, ritalin, and even anti-depressants from prisoners. It uses a 'mimimum dental services policy'. This causes intense suffering for thousands of prisoners. So does it amount to torture?
Read MoreA more vigorous defence of Stewart Murray Wilson
The media have told us that Murray Wilson refused to attend a rehabilitation programme while in prison. In fact, the Corrections Department refused to let him attend
Read MorePrisoners' treatment humiliating and cruel
Depressed and suicidal prisoners in New Zealand are placed in so-called 'at risk' cells where they are deprived of sleep and subjected to humiliating searches
Read MoreIs New Zealand becoming a prison colony?
The Corrections Department wants to build a new 1,000 bed prison at Wiri for $424 million - based on justice sector projections from 2010. The projections for 2011, however, show a new prison is no longer needed
Read MoreBank Robbery deja vu
In 2008, a depressed man robbed a bank – not for the money but so the judge would send him to prison. He got no help in prison and three years later he did it again. Is it time for an inquiry into our judicial system?
Read MoreNew Zealand's strange relationship with prisons
New Zealand is widely perceived as a safe country and yet we don't seem to feel safe -- and 20,000 Kiwis spend time in prison each year
Read MoreHow to rehabilitate prisoners
Rehabilitating prisoners requires more action than rhetoric, says the author of a new book on the justice system
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