Labour deputy leader suggests amendments to Restorative Justice Bill

Labour deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia has suggested a number of amendments to the Bill granting parole and providing other restorative justice measures.

Speaking during the debate in second reading of the Bill, Dr Farrugia said all prisoners should qualify for remission automatically because it was a legal right. Offenders who had infringed prison regulations only had to appear before the Offenders’ Assessment Board to qualify for remission.

Offenders sentenced to a prison term of less than two years also had a right to parole. Most of these cases involved persons who committed offences because of their uncontrolled temperamental behaviour. It was important that these people were helped.

Dr Farrugia also called for the granting of parole to all offenders who were medically certified with terminal illnesses and less than a year to live. The only prisoners who should be denied parole were those sentenced for crimes destabilising the state.

He said the Bill was liberal in its thinking. Legislators must see what was best for society, even though the popular feeling among members of the public was against the granting of parole.

Legislators had an obligation to establish objective guidelines on what benefited society in the long term, giving offenders the chance to really reform and reintegrate in society.

The majority of offenders were relapsers. He believed in the parole system but one had to see that it was managed professionally in a transparent and fair manner so as not to leave any suspicion of discrimination.

Dr Farrugia also called for changes in the setting up of various boards, which formed part of the judicial process. Retired police officers should not form part of these boards because they might have formed part of the judicial process when still in the force.

He said that a fresh report had to be made about an offender who appealed after his parole request had been denied. Previous documentation should not be considered because the offender could change in six months’ time.

Turning to the mediation process, Dr Farrugia said this was a challenge which parliamentarians had to take to make a quantum leap and support victims and offenders alike. He referred to inheritance cases in court where family members not only did not forgive but passed on hatred to future generations. Families could not continue carrying grudges across generations.

Dr Farrugia concluded that although the mediation process was difficult, victims should be supported to arrive at mediation while offenders should be convinced of the need to make amends for their crimes.