TO PUNISH OR IMPROVE??

Should the government "justice" system, aim to:-

1. protect citizens from violent crime,
2. punish criminals for their crimes
3. prevent criminals from re-offending (by reform, rehabilitation, medical treatment or detention).

List in your order of preference or importance.

RAPE

Should the most ruthless, sadistic and brutal rapists simply serve a sentence as punishment and then be released to live in the community to attack another victim if they wish, or should the government's aim be prevention of more attacks and elimination of the threat to innocent women or girls? The latter would require education to remove attitudes of aggression towards women and girls together with medical drug treatment to reduce obsession with violent, sadistic rape. Sydney Morning Herald says statistics show that "in the worst category of sex offenders, 45 percent will re-offend within 10 years".

STOPPING CRIME

Would you support a major government campaign to address the underlying causes of child abuse, poverty and crime?

RESOURCES

Given the government's limited resources, on which would you prefer to see your taxes spent - 1. Rehabilitation of the worst rapists so they can return to live in the community or protection of children from abuse? It seems unlikely the government will do both, if it does either!

JUVENILES IN PRISON

Do you think it is appropriate for young offenders to be sleeping two to a one person cell, exposing some to violence, abuse and disease?

Do you agree with young people remaining in juvenile detention rather than adult prison until they are 21 or do you agree with sending them to adult prison at 18, where they may very well be raped, abused or killed by older, stronger, more hardened criminals?