The
Sensible Sentencing Trust is a political
advocacy group based in
Napier, New Zealand. The Trust states its vision as "A Safe New Zealand" and its mission as "to obtain a large base of community support, and ensure safety for all New Zealanders from violent and criminal offending, through education, development of effective penal policies, and the promotion of responsible behaviour, accountable parenting, and respect for each other at all levels of society." The trust was formed by
Garth McVicar in 2001 in response to the police prosecution of Mark Middleton for threatening to kill Paul Dally who tortured, raped, and killed Middleton's 13-year-old stepdaughter Karla Cardno in 1989.