When we look across the criminal justice sector, we see that the over-representation of Māori begins at the apprehension stage. The extent of over-representation gradually increases through consecutive phases, including at prosecution, conviction and sentencing to custody. We know from our most recent data that:2
- controlling for population, Māori are apprehended for committing at least three times the number of offences as Europeans
- Māori receive fewer warnings/cautions or diversions than Europeans
- 45 per cent of those receiving new community based sentences are Māori
- 12 per cent of all convictions against Māori result in a custodial sentence (compared to 8 per cent for Europeans and Pacific peoples)
- more monetary sentences are imposed against Europeans compared to other ethnicities, while more community based sentences are imposed against Māori
- Māori victims experience almost twice as many victimisations as non-Māori
- Māori women victims have the highest victimisation rate, with an average number of reported offences per victim of 4.8.
Based on information provided to Chief District Court Judge Johnson and Maori Judges on 22 February 2008.
