Abolish Short-term Prison Sentences

New Zealand’s criminal justice system makes use of short-term custodial sentences, typically defined as imprisonment for less than 12 months, for a range of lower-level offences. These sentences are intended to provide punishment and deterrence, but their effectiveness remains contested. Short periods of incarceration can disrupt employment, housing, and social ties without providing sufficient time for rehabilitation, potentially contributing to higher rates of reoffending. Regardless, short-term imprisonment can serve as an important accountability mechanism and reinforces public confidence in the justice system. This issue questions whether such sentences should be abolished and replaced with alternative sanctions, such as community-based penalties or rehabilitative programmes.