Sentencing Problem Gamblers in New Zealand
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Graeme Minchin
Barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand,
Wellington, New Zealand
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Published online January 1, 2006
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Abstract
Any recognition of the societal impact of problem gambling necessarily implies that there is an effect on the incidence of crime. However current New Zealand Department of Corrections statistics, which extensively chart drug and alcohol abuse in prisoners, lack any reference to the incidence of gambling addiction. The invisibility of gambling addition, as a mitigating factor in criminal sentencing, arises from a misunderstanding of agency in addiction which leads to drug and alcohol abuse being factored into sentence programmes while problem gambling is often viewed as a matter of choice. There is no principle of sentencing which distinguishes between these various addictions and the failure to factor gambling addiction in sentencing decreases the likelihood of rehabilitation and so increases the likelihood of re-offending.
Keywords: Law; Problem gambling; Sentencing; Criminal behaviour; Court.
Contact: Graeme Minchin (minchin@pl.net)
Citation: Minchin, G. (2006). Sentencing problem gamblers in New Zealand. International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 4(1), 53-64.
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