Government Introduces Tougher Sentencing Reforms to Combat Violent Crime

• The government introduces reforms to reduce violent crime and prioritise victims' interests.
• New legislation limits sentence discounts and addresses growing concerns over short prison terms.
• Sentencing reforms also focus on protecting sole-charge workers and businesses tied to homes.

The government is set to introduce new legislation this week aimed at delivering tougher consequences for criminal activity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced changes to the Sentencing Act following the latest Cabinet meeting, emphasising the government’s commitment to addressing rising crime rates.

The reforms introduce stricter limits on the discounts judges can apply to sentences, capping them at 40 percent unless deemed manifestly unjust. These changes are intended to ensure that criminals "face real consequences for crime and victims are prioritised," according to Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith. He pointed to a "concerning trend" where courts had imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences in recent years.

Goldsmith said public confidence in the justice system had declined, and the reforms were designed to help restore it. "These changes will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029, alongside reducing serious repeat youth offending by 15 percent."

The key elements of the reform include:

• Limiting sentence discounts to 40 percent, except in cases where this would lead to unjust outcomes.
• Preventing repeat sentence reductions for youth offenders and those showing remorse.
• Introducing a new aggravating factor to protect sole-charge workers and those whose businesses are connected to their homes.
• Encouraging the use of cumulative sentencing for crimes committed while on bail, parole, or in custody.
• Implementing a sliding scale for early guilty pleas, with a maximum discount of 25 percent.

Additionally, the government is introducing two new aggravating factors for sentencing: offenders who exploit children to commit crimes, and criminals who livestream or post their offences online. Goldsmith stressed that social media "cannot be a tool to glorify or celebrate the actions of callous individuals."

At a media briefing, Luxon addressed concerns over rising violent crime, stating that recent statistics showed almost 30,000 more people had experienced violent crime between July 2022 and June 2024. This trend, he said, was "proof that the previous soft-on-crime approach has emboldened offenders."

The reforms aim to reduce serious crimes, but Goldsmith acknowledged they could result in an increase of 1,400 to 1,700 prisoners annually. However, he emphasised that the long-term goal is to lower prison numbers by reducing crime.

ACT MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar also praised the reforms for addressing crimes against sole-charge workers and home-based businesses, a move that delivers on ACT’s coalition commitment. Parmar said the changes place the rights of retailers and vulnerable workers "at the centre of sentencing."