Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

New Zealanders Review Parole, Death Penalty

July 16, 2004

(CPOD) Jul. 16, 2004 - Many New Zealanders believe the country's judicial regulations should be amended, according to a poll by Colmar Brunton released by One News. 58 per cent of respondents want to implement stricter parole laws, and 28 per cent of respondents would scrap the possibility of early release altogether.

In New Zealand, convicted persons must serve half their sentence in jail before becoming eligible for parole. The opposition National party has proposed changes to existing regulations, which include banning early release for violent and repeat offenders.

The death penalty was abolished in 1961. Current justice minister Phil Goff of the Labour party openly disagrees with the practice. 67 per cent of respondents would not bring back capital punishment.

Polling Data

What is your opinion on New Zealand's parole laws?

Parole laws should be abolished

28%

Parole laws should be stricter

58%

Parole laws are fine as they are now

13%

Do you think New Zealand should bring back the death penalty?

Yes

28%

No

67%

Don't know

5%

Source: Colmar Brunton / One News
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,000 New Zealand voters, conducted from Jul. 5 to Jul. 8, 2004. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.

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