that this and its consequences can no longer be tolerated. What is encouraging is that there already appears to be a realization of this beginning in Samoa. “Any violence, physical, psychological, emotional, it is violence. Violence is violence. We try to excuse it by saying it is discipline but this is not the case, it is still violence. It should not be acceptable.” Father Lui Sanele, Inquiry public hearings Before coming to a final conclusion that aiming towards a prohibition of corporal punishment is a good thing for Samoa, two further concerns conveyed to the Inquiry must be addressed. Myth 15: Banning corporal punishment will mean lots of parents end up in jail. Reality: “Parents are not jailed for a single spanking, just as adults are not imprisoned for slapping another adult once.” 9 To claim that such a law would lead to a mass imprisonment of parents is melodramatic and indicates the person using such an argument is looking for an excuse to carry on smacking children. Only adults who continually and/or severely beat their children will risk attention from the police and a custodial sentence. Myth 16: Banning corporal punishment will lead to increased crime. Reality: Because of the complex nature of crime rates in society it is difficult to accurately attribute cause and effect in relation to corporal punishment. There is no definitive evidence to suggest this to be the case and research tends to show that the opposite is true, that banning corporal punishment can reduce crime rates and lead to a range of other positive societal outcomes. Sweden, for example, has one of the lowest homicide rates in the world. The Inquiry has found how violence breeds violence so in itself must surely increase violent crime. The police reported an increase of violent crime in Samoa, supporting this conclusion. Further, the effects of family violence have consequences that increase the risk of many crimes. It increases school dropout rates, which leads to lack of income which leads to stealing. It leads to antisocial behaviour that leads in turn to crime. None of the consequences of violence are related to the reduction of crime. 9 Jonas Freden. “First ban on smacking children.” Swedish Institute. (21 May 2018). Retrieved from https://sweden.se/society/smacking-banned-since-1979/. Document 87 Inquiry anthology.