Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Punishments - Imprisonment

17: No sentence of solitary confinement to be passed

You could also call this:

“ Prisoners can't be kept alone as punishment, but they can be separated for discipline reasons. ”

You can’t be sentenced to solitary confinement. This means a judge can’t tell you to be put in a cell all by yourself as a punishment.

If you see any old laws that talk about solitary confinement or being put in prison in solitary confinement, it now just means being sent to prison.

This rule doesn’t change anything about the Corrections Act 2004 or its rules. The Corrections Act still has ways to deal with people who break prison rules.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM328066.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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“The law says you can't give the death sentence to kids under 18.”

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18: Putting under bond, or

“A legal action where someone promises to behave well or pay money if they don't”

Part 2 Punishments
Imprisonment

17No sentence of solitary confinement to be passed

  1. No offender shall be sentenced to solitary confinement.

  2. Every reference in any enactment to solitary confinement, or to imprisonment in solitary confinement, shall hereafter be construed as a reference to imprisonment.

  3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or affect any of the provisions of the Corrections Act 2004, or of any regulations thereunder, in respect of offences against discipline.

Compare
  • 1908 No 32 s 24(2)
Notes
  • Section 17(3): amended, on , by section 206 of the Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50).