Home detention 'not a soft option'

Home detention has proven to be an effective punishment in New Zealand, says Victoria University criminologist John Pratt.

Its economics go beyond simply being cheaper than jail, he said.

"If someone doesn't need to go to prison but can be dealt with through home detention then it seems to me to be a lot more sensible," Professor Pratt said. "If all those who say they should be in prison are willing to pay for that through their chequebooks rather than mine and many other taxpayers', then fair enough."

The Government this week unveiled proposed changes to sentencing laws, including making wider use of home detention.

The Government says recidivism rates for people on home detention are between a quarter and a third lower than for those serving prison sentences of up to one year, and that home detention has a high compliance rate, with less than 2 per cent of offenders recalled to prison.

Professor Pratt said prison was rightly called the university of crime, and home detention was an onerous punishment which kept people away from hardened criminals.

"It's a lot more productive, a lot more positive. Those who have things to lose in the community like jobs and marriages and families and so on will be able to do something to keep those together, and that will mean they won't come out after prison with nothing at all and then turn to crime again, which we will all have to pick up the pieces of."

However, the Sensible Sentencing Trust says increased use of home detention will only gain widespread support if it is an effective punishment rather than a cost-cutting move.

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said his organisation had no problem with home detention for "entry level" crime or first offenders, but did not want recidivist or violent criminals eligible for the sentence.

He also did not want to see "warm, soggy" home detention, where criminals spent their time at home drinking, taking drugs and partying.

"We want it linked to work," Mr McVicar said.

"From a victim's perspective, victims can see it as an easy out and it's very traumatising for them."

National law and order spokesman Simon Power said he remained open-minded about home detention, but did not want to see it used as a reason to reduce the number of people in prison.

In a speech on Wednesday, Justice Minister Mark Burton said the Government believed home detention had a number of advantages over prison, including helping with the reintegration and rehabilitation of offenders, and being much cheaper.

"We should all be pleased that maintaining an offender on home detention incurs costs of approximately $22,000 per annum compared to $59,000 for a minimum-security prisoner."


The rules

Convicted criminals serving sentences of two years or less can be given leave to apply for home detention. If approved, they serve part of their sentence at an approved residence, under electronic monitoring and the supervision of a parole officer. It is also available as a parole option towards the end of a longer sentence.

If new legislation is passed, from July 2007 judges will be able to impose home detention as a sentence for lower-level offenders , instead of as an alternative or partial alternative to prison. It will have a maximum term of 12 months, and could be combined with community service or a fine.

Home detention is estimated to cost $22,000 a year, compared to $59,000 to keep a prisoner in medium security.

Extending the use of home detention could mean 310 fewer prison places needed in the future.

(Source: Ministry of Justice)