Issue 75, July 2010 - Rethinking Crime and Punishment

RECAP Newsletter Issue 75, July 2010 Page 2Send $30 per copy toRobson Hanan Trust, P O Box45-152, Lower Hutt 5042.Californian Prison Chaplainon Three StrikesThe Past President of the PrisonChaplain's Association,California, Rev Givens gives usa first-hand look at howCalifornia's three-strikes lawworks, what it means for theprison population, and theimpact that similar legislationcould have in New Zealand.He's been speaking in thiscountry as a guest of the NewZealand Howard League.In the NewsRobson Hanan TrustListen to his Radio NZinterview hereEditorial: Funding cut too toughto stomachSpeech: The Prisoners AndVictims Claims (Expiry AndApplication Dates) AmendmentBill - Hon Tariana TuriaMinister Praises InspirationalWork Of Police Youth Aidcountry. Programme participants have a strong affinity with him because he shares asimilar background and really understands their life stories as well as their prisonexperiences.“I don't blame anyone for my crimes and the dark side of my past life. I takeresponsibility, I own it, I wear it.”Duke conveys the message that people always have a choice about how they live theirlives, and they need to take responsibility for that. They also need to seize opportunitieshanded down along the way.Mahitahi is not the only role Duke had once he was back in the community. He alsoworked in the mental health area as cultural advisor at the Mason Clinic. There were alot of challenges but he was able to make significant progress with the clients he workedwith and gained a lot of respect from the staff.Four years later Duke has returned to return to delivering Mahitahi programmes to thosein prison. He is so passionate about his work that he responds to requests from gangleaders to come and talk 'Mahitahi' to their rangatahi at their 'pad'. He has deliverednumerous presentations over recent years, all for a cup of tea or a petrol voucher.Duke Kaitapu has four children and a wife whom he refers to as his 'backbone', and whoare extremely supportive of his work within prisons and also with those on the outside.Ka pai ki muri,ka pai ki mua.Ka pai Duke.This story is printed with the permission of Jon Royal, National Manager, Maori Services,Department of Corrections. It initially appeared in the newsletter 'Ahurewa' which ispublished by the Maori Services Team of the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Group.'Ahurewa' takes a 'strengths based' approach to unlocking the potential of both offendersand the communities from whence they come. Produced quarterly, it's an uplifting read.To subscribe, email . ahurewa@corrections.govt.nz….the MovementTamariki Ora – A new Beginning a Defining Moment for Maori“Last night's Māori TV programme, 'Tamariki Ora –a New Beginning' was a defining moment forMāori,” says Kim Workman, FamiliesCommissioner, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.The programme deals with the issues of Māorifamily violence and child abuse.A defining moment is a 'moment in our lives thatdefines who we are'. The 'Tamariki Ora'programme demonstrated that Māori aredetermined to acknowledge the issues of family violence and abuse. It showed Māorimen acknowledging that the abuse they received as children, turned them into abusersof their own children. It also showed the extent to which whānāu are acknowledging theissues, forging their own solutions, and actively working within their whānāu and thecommunity to encourage positive, loving relationships.Mr Workman recalls, “In my own marae, less than 20 years ago, I was present when agroup of kuia defended a kaumatua who had sexually abused a visiting school child,excusing this as a practise that was culturally acceptable in traditional times. We allknew that was nonsense but no-one had the guts to face the issue head on. Those daysare well and truly gone.”“I wept tears at the programme – but they were tears of joy. From this day on, no-onewill ever be able to say that Māori are failing to take responsibility for their ownbehaviour,” says Mr Workman.Jane Clifton, Dompost Reviewer, made the point nicely;It's not often we get to hear directly from the abused and the abusercombined, yet most often they are one and the same person. And tillseeing these programmes, most of us will have assumed that it's nighimpossibleto break the cycle for those brought up with brutality who go onto practise it.© Copyright The Robson Hanan Trust 2010, All rights reserved