By Berk Kutay Gokmen
ISTANBUL (AA) - New Zealand's former Prime Minister Helen Clark on Wednesday criticized prison "reforms" with longer sentences, which passed into law.
Clark described sentencing “reforms” as a “populist rhetoric,” which she said would result in a significant increase in prison populations, significantly burdening the New Zealand taxpayer.
“Time for New Zealand to look at successful justice systems like those of Norway and The Netherlands with low imprisonment rates,” Clark wrote on X, “rather than mimic the failed prison policies of the USA.”
Clark’s remark came after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that the “reforms” passed into law Wednesday.
“Criminals will now spend longer in prison thanks to our sentencing reforms,” Luxon said.
“That means longer sentences for serious offenders, no more repeat discounts for youth, stronger protections for retail workers, and tougher penalties for criminals who livestream their crimes,” the prime minister added.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has said the reforms would reinforce the criminal justice system by capping sentence discounts, preventing repeat discounts for youth and remorse, and encouraging the use of cumulative sentencing for offenses while on bail.