The Justice Minister says the Government is still fleshing out some sentencing details as new rules pass through Parliament.  

Legislation passed today caps judges' sentence discounts at 40 percent. 

It also encourages cumulative sentencing for offences done on bail, in custody, or on parole. 

Minister Paul Goldsmith says it sends a bad signal if sentences aren't added together. 

"We haven't gone so far as legislating that that should always happen every time at this stage, because it does have very, very significant impacts on our prison populations - and our ability to cope with it."

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