Sentencing policies: Where main parties stand

Labour

No specific policy released on sentencing. Labour has introduced a minimum 17-year non-parole period for the worst murders. Prisoners jailed for two years or more can seek parole after serving a third of the sentence. Those jailed for less than two years are automatically released after one year.

National

Abolish parole for violent and repeat offenders. Greater use of preventive detention sentences for violent repeat offenders.

Greens

No new prisons. Increase rehabilitation programmes for prison inmates. Establish "family houses" for pregnant women and mothers in prison to ensure good bonding with infants and continuing attachment with young children. Establish an independent prisoner complaints inspectorate.

NZ First

Will introduce a category of "outcome sentences" that puts the onus on the criminal to show he or she is ready for release. If there is not genuine rehabilitation, the offender will serve the full sentence.

United Future

Increase minimum non-parole periods for violent offenders. Preventive detention for all serious violent and sexual crimes. Tougher minimum penalties for child abuse and neglect, child sexual offences and child pornography. Scrap concurrent sentences so that multiple offenders will pay for each crime committed. Life imprisonment for those found guilty of "heinous" murders.

Act

Remove all early release, and replace parole with supervision through electronic monitoring. End automatic concurrent sentencing. Judges must ask for and heed victims' views. True life sentences for all first-degree murder. Automatic maximum sentence after three repeat offences.

Progressives

Expand the pilot system for restorative justice to all courts.

Maori Party

No specific sentencing policy. Promote restorative justice.