Why parole needs changing
July 27th, 2004 at 10:58 am by David FarrarThe Press has a story on paroled child killer Robin Pitney, which highlights the problems of the current parole system.
In 1992 he was sentecned to life imprisonment for stabbing to death an 11 year old boy. It was a random unprovoked attack.
The Parole Board let him out at the earliest possible date in 2002. After less than a year he reoffended again. Now he was recalled to prison, but only for a few months, and then released once again on parole.
And surprise surprise he is now assaulting women.
Why did the Parole Board re-release him after only a few months, when it was clear he was not rehabilitated?
No tag for this post.
July 27th, 2004 at 11:50 am
The Parole Board must be working for Brash. A few more instances of this and he’ll waltz in at the next election…
Vote:July 27th, 2004 at 11:52 am
Not intentional I’m sure, but I went to the article and read it, and felt misled by your post. When I read the post I thought “Unprovoked attack on 11yr old! that’s pretty much pure evil! he should stay away for ages!” but when I read the article it said he was 15 at the time.
If he had been 25 at the time, it would be a different story, but people make huge changes between 15 and 25, so I see no reason why a parole at the earliest possible date should not be considered.
Further, I can see nowhere in the article that says he reoffended a second time (it may be true, but it isn’t there), it says “he was recalled in 2003 because he posed a risk to society.”
That doesn’t suggest to me that he actually offended, only that he worried his parole officer enough to result in his being pulled back into prison.
The fact of the matter is that from this point of view, any number of plausible theories are available, it is hardly a “surprise surprise” situation.
I have plenty of issues with the justice system in this country, but I think there are better examples of things going wrong than this, at least as far as the linked article informs.
Vote:July 27th, 2004 at 1:52 pm
This wasn’t some 15 year old kid beating up an 11 year old with his fists. He stabbed him multiple times in the head, stomach, back etc. I think I regard a 15 year old who is capable of doing that as more evil than a 25 year old who does.
The Parole Board can not recall someone they have released, just because they think he may nor reoffend again. To have recalled him, he must have either broken the law again or violated his parole conditions.
Incidentially the mere fact he has now broken the law again, shows they got it wrong.
Vote:July 27th, 2004 at 2:04 pm
I think I regard a 15 year old who is capable of doing that as more evil than a 25 year old who does.
That statement blows my mind.
Vote:July 27th, 2004 at 2:33 pm
The solution: Parole awarded (or hopefully, denied) by a jury of 12, instead of a parole board.
Plus harsher sentencing laws of course.
Vote:July 27th, 2004 at 2:39 pm
Sorry philR, but you represent the reason for the Brash surge. Who misreprented above? I’d suggest the person who accidentally left out the multiple stabbings bit, and then having had it pointed out, chose to sidestep it.
But back to the original moot from our host. Why did the Board let him out again? Because they are doing only what their Labour leaders require them to do.
Vote:July 27th, 2004 at 3:21 pm
Fair point legbefore.
Vote:DPF, why is a younger scumbag more evil than an older one? Certainly support accountability of young offenders, a multiple stabbing of an 11 year old is very average no matter what age the criminal.
I guess it is arguable whether or not he should have been let out on the first one. Parole proponents would suggest that you have to be given a chance, especially with age (notwithstanding the point above) but to be recalled and then let out is very strange. Maybe the recall was for a property or other non-violent offence? Perhaps breach of parole conditions?
In any event more ammunition for the Brash juggernaut.
July 27th, 2004 at 8:00 pm
If that’s all it takes to blow the intellectual mind, we’d better change our natinal anthem to “God Help New Zealand.”
Vote: