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A justice reform lobby group is warning that changes to bail laws will hit Māori harder.
Kim Workman from Rethinking Crinme and Punishment says Māori are already twice as likely to be remanded in custody than non-Māori, and plans to tighten the bail laws will make the gap worse.
He says Māori offenders often cannot afford a good lawyer, and changes to legal aid means they often represent themselves, badly.
Police are also more likely to oppose bail where an offender is unrepresented.
Mr Workman says the Bail Amendment Bill is yet another example of punitive law being introduced without any effort to assess its likely effect.
That contributes to the growth of racial disparity within the criminal justice system.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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