http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3053008a11,00.html
MARTIN KAY and WENDY MURDOCH
"The Cabinet is today set to rubber-stamp plans to give victims first call on payouts to jailed criminals in a move that could also avert action by 200 inmates held in Auckland Prison's behaviour management regime.
Ministers are expected to approve a law change that could include freezing compensation to inmates from the date any bill is introduced to Parliament.
The move comes after five inmates held in the regime were awarded $130,000 in compensation and $358,000 in legal costs last month. The compensation followed a High Court ruling in April that the regime breached the Bill of Rights Act.
The Corrections Department is appealing against the decision and the award, but since, 18 other inmates on the regime have filed action. Their lawyer, Tony Ellis, has also sought permission to sue on behalf of 175 more inmates in a case that could result in more than $3 million in compensation.
It is understood the Government originally wanted to ban payments to inmates, but was forced to rethink its plans because that would breach international laws on human rights.
Instead, the Cabinet will consider today moves that would allow victims to freeze prisoner compensation and sue for the money as reparation. "
