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ACT leader praised for 'lateral thinking' on prisoner reform

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Feb 2017, 9:19AM
Wiri Prison (supplied)

ACT leader praised for 'lateral thinking' on prisoner reform

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Feb 2017, 9:19AM

Former Labour Party President Mike Williams has praised ACT leader David Seymour for his "lateral thinking" on prisoner reform.

Mr Williams - now chief executive of the Howard League penal reform group - is set to speak at the ACT conference this weekend.

The Howard league has been working to lift literacy rates among prisoners.

Mr Williams said Mr Seymour has recognised the importance of reform.

"He came to a Howard League literacy graduation at Rimutaka jail last year ... I think it was a revelation to him that so many prisoners couldn't read and write."

Mr Williams said well over half of prisoners are functionally illiterate.

"David Seymour's picked up this problem and is attempting to do something about it."

ACT will release its "turn over a new leaf" policy on Saturday. The policy will address support for prisoners once they leave prison.

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