Thou whom........avenging pow'rs obey, Cancel my debt (too great to pay) Before the sad accounting day (Wentworth Dillon)OFFENDERS will have to repay the cost of their imprisonment under a proposal being considered by Victorian MPs?
The scheme, backed by groups representing victims of crime and the state Opposition, would save taxpayers millions of dollars? The Herald Sun [Scum] believes?, the proposal was made by a secret committee that claims to be made up of the families of victims of crime, a serving Liberal and Labor MP and Corrections Victoria staff.
Victims of Crime Association spokesman Noel McNamara said the Incarceration Repayment Scheme was long overdue?
"The victims of these people are often left to suffer for the rest of their lives," Mr McNamara said.
"Of course the criminals should have to pay. They should pay for the rest of their lives?
"It's not as if they are starving inside. They are better off than a lot of pensioners." ?
But why should offenders have to pay for the rest of their lives in order to learn something new? What kind of payment system is that? Not just unfeasible but 'blind and toothless!' (Mahatma Gandhi).
And they're starving inside, starving for programs and education the reason they were sent to the Criminal Punishment System.
Its people like McNamara that needs to do time in prison before any type of true and proper assessment can be made.
The fact is at $65,000 a year I don't quite see how $12.00 per week basic dole money or $20.00 per week basic wage in prison is going to cover it Mr Mcnamara?
The committee behind the proposal says it believes criminals often get off lightly.
"We also believe it is unjust for taxpayers to be burdened with the cost of incarcerating people who have displayed antisocial, destructive or unlawful behaviour," the proposal, which has been sent to all Victorian MPs, says.
But how many in the committee have been to prison?
Who is this Committee really?
It suggests the money paid back be used for community projects, or health or education. Great idea!
Well then they must also believe that prison somehow has a potential income source for the prisoners to be able to payback the money for the cost of their incarceration?
Opposition Corrections spokesman Richard Dalla-Riva said the proposal would have wide community support.
Sure it would?
"It's a good idea," Mr Dalla-Riva said.
"I am sure most Victorians would see it as a suitable form of punishment and a disincentive to committing further crime."
But we still haven't identified the income source?
Mr Dalla-Riva said he would like to see the money go to supporting victims of crime.
It costs taxpayers $65,591 a year -- $180.19 a day -- for each of Victoria's prisoners.
The proposal says it is not meant to recover the full cost of imprisonment, but some money to be put to better use?
Actually it is a political stunt!
It is envisaged the scheme will apply only to prisoners who resume paid employment?
"As with students subject to HECS debt, former prisoners will only be expected to repay the cost of their incarceration once their income on release from prison reaches $25,348," the proposal says?
Ex Prisoner disincentive to earn, work or lead law abiding lives!
But what if their income on release stays at $200.00 a week because they stay on the dole? What if they turn to thieving instead and re-offend? What if like the recidivism rate is already around 42%?
Who's going to pay for the second prison term? You!
Without a paddle
Dalla-Down The River "The more they earn, the higher their repayments will be until the debt is repaid." Great!
The amount to be paid will be calculated by the Australian Taxation Office when former prisoners lodge tax returns?
But unfortunately they won't be lodging tax returns that's going to be the problem. In fact they're not going to be logging tax returns for the rest of their natural lives if this policy is implemented? What about that? A disincentive to earn or work.
It is proposed prisoners be given discounts for paying early?
Lock up the committee
The group says it wants to remain anonymous but will work behind the scenes to make sure its proposal becomes reality?
When enough is never enough?
The proposal claims the group's members include a father whose son's killer was jailed for just five years, and the daughter of a woman subject to domestic violence.
In the latter case, the offender was jailed for six months despite the woman being left with permanent emotional and physical injuries.
Lock up the politicians
By Craig Binnie and Just Us posted 21 March 05
Ed. When is the state going to learn that by making it harder for lawbreakers it is going to make it easier to break the law?
When is the state going to stop using victims groups as political pawns?
In any event all they have to do is go and see how much victims compensation was collected from the offenders since it became law and see how the peasants paid it back out of their dole money and then see if the offenders can afford to pay back any more? That should give the politicians a feasible way of communicating the reality to the victims groups without the political grandstanding (in the pro-government media) promoting an idea that won't get off the ground ever, simply to appease victims groups.
Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life. (Joan Lunden)
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