Elizabeth StanleyElizabeth Stanley

Dr Elizabeth Stanley is the director of the Institute of Criminology at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. She is the author of ‘The Road to Hell: State Violence against Children in Postwar New Zealand’', which charts the experiences of 105 victims of institutional abuse and sets out a framework for a ‘Commission of Recognition, Repair and Prevention’.

Why a radical approach is needed to fix our broken justice system

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Justice reinvestment redirects spending on criminal justice into social justice initiatives that strengthen communities and reduce social harms. Criminology professor Elizabeth Stanley explains why it could be game-changing. New Zealanders have long grappled with an obsession with criminal justice expansions, even though crime rates are on the decline. We tell ourselves: “Just another thousand police … Read more

How expressions of white supremacy seep through our society

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Yesterday it emerged that 10 years of public documents from NZ spy agencies contained zero mentions of rightwing extremism. Yet narratives invoking racialised fears and myths of Pakeha superiority run deep, writes criminologist Elizabeth Stanley We have officially experienced two acts of terrorism in New Zealand. The first was the bombing of the Greenpeace Rainbow … Read more

Revictimisation is a real risk in a state care abuse inquiry. Here is how to avoid it

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Around the world, there are many abuse victims who have been saddened, angered or re-victimised from inquiry processes. These are the lessons for New Zealand, writes criminologist Elizabeth Stanley. This week Aaron Smale has been sharing personal stories of state abuse of indigenous people in New Zealand, Australia and Canada, and asking what we can … Read more

‘Risk prevention’ just won’t wash. Torture in prisons is torture, and we need to act now

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The use of ‘degrading’ and ‘dehumanising’ restraints in New Zealand prisons has been found by the Ombudsman’s Office to breach the UN Convention on Torture. This is no time to be making excuses, writes Elizabeth Stanley. In New Zealand, “At Risk Units” hold prisoners who are considered at risk of suicide or self-harm. They are … Read more

Lock ’em up and throw away the solutions that might actually work

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The billions being poured into police and prisons would be better spent on demonstrably effective social policies, but the evidence suggests early interventions towards the most vulnerable children may not be in their best interests, writes criminologist Elizabeth Stanley. Prime minister Bill English attached himself to well-trodden law and order election politics earlier this month, … Read more

Decades of brutality in our name, and Key and Tolley cover their ears – nothing to see here

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The refusal to mount an independent inquiry on behalf of those who suffered horrendous physical, sexual and psychological abuse in state care is staggering, writes Elizabeth Stanley. This morning the prime minister, John Key, has joined his social development minister, Anne Tolley, in defending the government’s approach to victims of horrendous physical, sexual and psychological … Read more