Justice

Ministry of Justice staff around the country walked off the job this morning in the most substantial move since industrial action began over a pay dispute.

The Government is ruling out offering some prisoners amnesties to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons.

The Supreme Court has granted a Kawerau builder, jailed for seven years for attacking a policeman, leave to appeal his conviction.

A bill strengthening laws against gangs is "tinkering around the edges" of tackling the problem of organised crime, the Police Association says.

The Law Society has trashed the "three strike" sentencing bill, saying if Parliament wants courts to hand out tougher sentences it should broaden preventive detention laws.

A formidable force of the most senior members of Auckland's legal profession is set to help the SPCA bring animal offenders to justice.

The ACT Party is calling for an immediate review of bail laws, although Justice Minister Simon Power says violent offenders like Haiden Davis would have probably been denied it under changes introduced late last year.

Justice officials have been asked to look into the laws around self-defence, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

A wide-ranging review of justice sector operations is underway, Labour MP Grant Robertson revealed today.

A government bill that makes it more difficult for the worst violent offenders to get parole was given its first reading in Parliament tonight.