August 13, 2013
McVicar attack off base
The newly formed Justice Coalition is rejecting a claim by Sensible Sentencing Trust head Garth McVicar that it was responsible for the release of recidivist offender Philip Edward.
Edward, who was released after serving a sentence for the 2004 manslaughter of designer David McNee, is being hunted by police after he snatched a two-year old boy from a house in Panmure.
Coalition coordinator Kim Workman says rather than creating a climate in which recidivist criminals are let loose on an unsuspecting community, the coalition acknowledges almost all prisoners will eventually be released.
It wants them taught to read and write, to learn work skills, to have their drug and alcohol addictions dealt with, to recognize and work through their mental health problems so they can turn their lives around and not be a danger to the community.
He says Mr McVicar's approach will only ensure that people like Mr Edwards are worse when they come out than when they went in.
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