Face of the Day

> 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. > > NZH Read More Here