KEY POINTS:
Criminals in prison for serious offences will not be allowed parole until they have served at least two-thirds of their sentences under a new law.
The commissioner of police will also be able to apply to have a parolee sent back to jail in some circumstances.
And criminals serving a sentence of less than a year will not be entitled to parole at all.
The changes come after the case of Graeme Burton who killed a man and injured others while on parole.
Justice Minister Mark Burton said the criminal justice bills passed last night aimed to reduce offending, increase certainty around penalties, and address the growth of the prison population.
The government said it made clear that parole was a privilege.
The parole board has been given the ability to summon witnesses and use confidentiality orders.
NZ First MP Ron Mark said his party had put the Government on notice and would be watching very closely to ensure the laws did what they claimed.
He said "stupid" law changes in 2002 had seen several problems arise - such as only a third of sentences being served.
Last week Act MP Heather Roy succeeded in getting a change to ensure victims retained the right to present evidence at parole board hearings after NZ First agreed to vote for it.
Mr Burton said New Zealand found itself in the anomalous situation of having a rising prison population despite decreasing overall crime rates.
The Government was determined to be tough on crime and serious and repeat offenders would continue to be jailed, he said, but there would be more non-custodial sentences for lesser crimes.
Home detention became a stand alone sentence, and community detention and intensive supervision were now options.
- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF, NEWSTALK ZB
