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New Zealand: Jail for unpaid fines 'bad idea'

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Jail for unpaid fines 'bad idea' 17/01/2011 New Zealand A bill that would make imprisonment a penalty for people with overdue fines, has today been criticised by a lobby group that says Ireland has abandoned similar legislation. The Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, which was introduced last April and is currently before a parliamentary select committee, is intended to strengthen enforcement measures. Among the proposed amendments, people with outstanding fines might have their driver's licence suspended. Where fines were unaffordable and unenforceable, the legislation provides for the penalty to be a prison term or home detention sentences. Rethinking Crime and Punishment lobby group director Kim Workman said international research showed imprisonment for non-payment of fines was a bad idea...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on January 17, 2011 (boomark / email).