The National Party is promising to ban judges from taking into account good character references when sentencing sex offenders.
While the references could still be provided to the court, if elected again later this year, National plans to change the law so judges can’t take the submissions into consideration.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said taking the submissions into account was an “absolute disgrace”.
“No sexual offender is a person of good character. Period,” Luxon said. [...]
“I don’t care if you’re a good athlete and I don’t care if your manager liked that you turned up on time at work.
“That victim in the courtroom is your character, your conviction is your character and no sympathetic statement to the contrary should play a role on their sentencing.”
National’s justice spokesman Paul Goldsmith said too often, the interests of offenders are prioritised over victims of sexual violence.
“As the law is written today, judges are required to take into account testimony from individuals willing to speak to an offender’s character – former coaches, employers and family members willing to state on the record that any offending is the exception, not the rule.”
Goldsmith said that while this might serve the interests of “well-connected offenders”, it rarely serves the interests of victims.
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He said no victim should have to sit in a courtroom and hear how the person who robbed them of their dignity deserves a discount at sentencing because of a statement from a former running coach or a principal.
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