Ric Stevens is a Multimedia Journalist specialising in Open Justice reporting at Hawke's Bay Today.
I have worked in journalism for about 40 years, including as a political reporter at Parliament and in senior roles at a number of daily newspapers. In the course of my career I have met 10 prime ministers and covered topics as diverse as riots, earthquakes and murder trials, among many other things. I stepped aside from daily journalism for a while in 2016 to complete a master's degree and then found myself working for four years on the front line of the criminal justice system, as a probation officer. This has helped inform my current reporting on crime and justice. I was delighted to be able to come back to journalism as a member of NZME's Open Justice team in 2022.
![Judge to career burglar: 'Stop making promises and actually do something'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=871)
Judge to career burglar: 'Stop making promises and actually do something'
Pre-sentence report said Reijhan Green was a 'high-risk' offender with a violent history.
![‘National disgrace’: NZ’s landmark Abuse in Care inquiry finds 200,000 harmed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=871)
‘National disgrace’: NZ’s landmark Abuse in Care inquiry finds 200,000 harmed
The 3000-page report calls for apologies, redress and police investigations.
![Released rapist and killer still 'high risk' after serving all of 20-year jail term](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=871)
Released rapist and killer still 'high risk' after serving all of 20-year jail term
Basil Mist offended against five girls aged 7 to 15 and killed his girlfriend.
!['Very high risk' violent sex offender on the run after cutting off ankle bracelet](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=871)
'Very high risk' violent sex offender on the run after cutting off ankle bracelet
Leslie Peter Ross' history includes kidnap, rape and wounding with intent to injure.
![No job, no insurance - burglar learns hard way about consequences of crime](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=871)
No job, no insurance - burglar learns hard way about consequences of crime
Man who stole from orchard tries and fails to get discharge without conviction.
![‘Horrific’ abuse: Treatment of Lake Alice children was torture, inquiry finds](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=871)
‘Horrific’ abuse: Treatment of Lake Alice children was torture, inquiry finds
Electric shocks and painful injections were used for punishment.