Short-stay prisoners behind increasing jail population

Simon Power

The increase in the number of prisoners jailed for less than six months, often for driving-related offences, is "striking", says National MP Simon Power.

Mr Power released the figures at a Sensible Sentencing Trust cross-party forum in Hastings yesterday. Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor was also present.

Mr Power pointed to several documents, including one from Treasury, which found increased prisoner numbers were a result of more people being remanded in custody rather than bail, less use of home detention and more short-stay prisoners.

Corrections Department figures showed there were more prisoners across all sentence lengths since 2002, but the growth in those serving less than six months was "striking".

Mr Power questioned the Government's claim that the increased prison population was caused by "tougher sentences for violent and serious criminals".

"Rather than put away violent serious criminals for longer, Labour is putting away more criminals for short sentences," he said.

The Corrections briefing said the growth in the number of prisoners serving more than two years was "somewhat muted, suggesting that the Sentencing Act 2002 has not necessarily played a significant role in current muster issues". This was contrary to what ministers had claimed, he said.

Mr Power also referred to court sentencing figures that showed the number of crimes with sentences of six months or less had increased most in traffic-related offences.

The number convicted for driving while disqualified was up 70 per cent since 2001, dangerous driving was up 105 per cent and drink-driving up 70 per cent.

"When this Government claims to be tough on crime, I don't think that is what the public of New Zealand had in mind."