Anger as TVs given to prison inmates

Inmates at Waikeria Prison in Waikato are being given television sets bought with taxpayer money to compensate them for extended time locked up in cells because of staff shortages.

But the move has been condemned by Opposition MPs and the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

A prison officer confirmed the TVs had been issued to the inmates.

He said the televisions were compensation for the prisoners being held for longer periods in their cells as a result of staff shortages.

Serious Sentencing Trust national spokesman Garth McVicar said providing TVs to inmates sent a wrong message about re-offending.

"Currently we have a re-offending rate among youths of 97 per cent. What does it say about our commitment to stop youth offending if you're providing them with TVs?"

Mr McVicar said the public should ask what sort of justice system the "warm fuzzy" brigade running it were trying to create.

"Once again we have a clear example of a justice system being all about the offender, not about the victim."

A woman whose family were the victim of burglars just days before Christmas said she was appalled to learn the state was buying TVs for offenders.

"I'm absolutely disgusted, this is why people reoffend, because the punishment doesn't meet the crime," said the woman who asked not to be named.

New Zealand First law and order spokesman Ron Mark said the revelations just added to a long list of deals done by Corrections with inmates to keep them happy during the muster and staffing crisis.

"There has been $400 barbecue and fish 'n' chip nights at other units in Waikeria as well as DVDs piped through to keep everyone quiet while units are locked down for extended periods," he said.

National's Tony Ryall called it "an outrageous reward" for criminal offending. New Zealand needed a youth justice system that made people responsible for their crime, he said.

Corrections Minister Paul Swain was not available for comment.

- NZPA