The Government's sentencing reforms passed their final reading, with Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith stating that these changes will ensure serious criminals face longer sentences.

The reforms come as a direct response to the alarming increase in violent crime, including ram raids and aggravated robberies, and address the growing public concern over shorter prison sentences being handed down by the courts despite this rise in crime.

Goldsmith pointed out that, in recent years, courts have imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences, despite the increasing rates of violent crime.

Under the new reforms, judges will be limited in the sentence discounts they can apply, with a cap set at 40%.

Repeat offenders, particularly youth, will no longer be able to rely on lenient sentences based on their youth or expressions of remorse without making efforts to reform their behaviour.

One of the key changes in the reforms is the introduction of an aggravating factor for crimes committed against workers in sole charge positions or those whose home and business are interconnected.

This is intended to better protect frontline workers.

For communities across New Zealand, this measure is expected to have a significant impact, especially in areas where small business owners and essential workers are often the most vulnerable targets of crime.

Additionally, the reforms include measures to ensure that offenders who continue criminal activities while on bail, in custody, or on parole face cumulative sentencing, which helps to denounce their disregard for the justice system.

This is particularly important for local communities, where repeat offenders can cause lasting harm to neighbourhood safety and well-being.

The reforms also encourage earlier guilty pleas by offering discounts of up to 25%, with the discount decreasing as the plea is entered later in the process.

This change aims to reduce unnecessary trials that are costly and stressful for victims, making the justice system more efficient and supportive for those impacted by crime.

Furthermore, the reforms introduce two new aggravating factors: one for adults who exploit children or young people to commit crimes, and another for offenders who glorify their criminal activities by livestreaming or posting them online.

These changes will not only protect vulnerable individuals but also help prevent the normalisation of crime in local communities.

Goldsmith reaffirmed that the Government is committed to reducing violent crime, with a target to have 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029.

The reforms are also part of an effort to reduce serious repeat youth offending by 15%, directly benefiting communities affected by repeat offenders and helping to restore public confidence in the justice system.

These sentencing reforms are expected to have a positive impact across New Zealand, particularly in areas where violent crime and repeat offending have left communities feeling unsafe.

By strengthening penalties for serious offenders, the Government aims to reduce crime rates and ensure that victims have more confidence in seeing justice served.

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