Election 2020 - Party Policies - Justice, Law and Order - Justice and Courts
25th Jul 20, 5:56am
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Justice and Courts
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Not yet available on their website.
- Remove court fees to ensure everyone has a reasonable opportunity to access justice.
- Fund the courts’ needs at each stage of the process, to fulfil the Executive’s constitutional obligations.
- Properly fund and resource the courts system in order to reduce average waiting times for trial after being charged to below three months (excepting genuine delays relating to establishing a case for defence), including expanding the number of district courts and related staff.
- Review the cost recovery rules for court cases, to broaden the range of situations in which cost recovery is available and reflect actual costs by bringing the level of payment into line with those payable in civil cases.
- Increase the range of sentencing options available to judges in criminal court cases.
- Support the expansion of Rangitahi Courts and the establishment of other marae based criminal justice courts.
- Investigate the viability of an online court systems approach that uses technology to provide a service for civil disputes, from early stages of providing information on rights and obligations to assisting in resolution and making a determination.
- Read more here and here.
- Address the backlog of cases across the court system following the COVID-19 lockdown period, with investment from the COVID-19 Recovery Fund.
- Continue to promote positive changes within the court system to improve the experience of victims, including reducing secondary trauma, and improve outcomes.
- Read more here.
- Ensure that the Social Investment approach is implemented across the justice sector with clear targets established to reduce offending and address the areas of most need within the justice system.
- Set a target for sexual violence offences to be dealt with within 12 months.
- Introduce a new category of Young Serious Offenders to give Police more tools in dealing with teenage and young adult offending.
- Expand the Integrated Service Response initiative to provide greater access to support for family violence.
- Change the Victim Notification Register to make it opt-out rather than opt-in.
- Expand the use of specialist courts like drug and alcohol courts, which help offenders deal with their addiction issues.
- Investigate transferring disputes from the Court system to alternative dispute resolution forums.
- De-escalate disputes by having some cases heard at lower levels of the Court system.
- Extend sitting hours and increase use of technology to clear Court backlog.
- Read more here and here.
Not yet available on their website.
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