Prison population forecasts show that prisoner numbers are going to increase rapidly and an additional 3,500 new beds will be required in the prison system by 2018. Current prison capacity is expected to be exhausted by 2010.
Corrections is undertaking a significant amount of design and planning work to increase prison capacity to ensure there is enough accommodation in place to securely, safely and humanely hold an increased number of prisoners.
To meet the immediate needs for prison accommodation, the Department is planning to permanently increase double bunking at Northland Region Corrections Facility (NRCF), Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility (ARWCF), Spring Hill Corrections Facility (SHCF) and Otago Corrections Facility (OCF).
There will also be increased double bunking at Mt Eden/Auckland Central Remand Prison (ME/ACRP) once the current redevelopment is completed.
The Department’s plan is to permanently increase capacity at its four newest facilities by making greater use of double bunking.
Double bunking involves two prisoners sharing one cell. Increasing double bunking will add approximately 1,000 beds to the prison system and will meet the immediate need for prisoner accommodation.
Increased double bunking is the most practical and cost effective solution to accommodate prisoners. The Department already double bunks at a number of prisons nationwide – 21 per cent of beds are in shared cells.
The additional beds at each site is as follows:
Corrections has selected these sites for increased double bunking because they have the most modern security measures in place, have good infrastructure and are best able to meet increased prisoner numbers.
The Department has also made wide use of double bunking to accommodate peaks in the prison population and it is common practice in other international jurisdictions – including Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Public safety is the Department’s highest priority and double bunking will not impact on the security of these sites.
All the prison sites selected for increased double bunking are considered to be the safest and best equipped to accommodate double-bunked prisoners. They all incorporate robust security technology and are designed to keep the public and staff safe.
There have been no break-out escapes from any of the new prison facilities since they opened. The new facilities are enclosed by a highly secure perimeter wall with a single controlled point of entry. The perimeter consists of two fence lines, which incorporate detection technology.
The Department’s main purpose is to improve public safety. Corrections is also committed to providing a safe working environment for staff.
The sites selected for increased double bunking were chosen because they are the safest and best-equipped to manage increased prisoner numbers.
The Department will be increasing the number of custodial staff working in double bunked units to maintain the staff to prisoner ratio. Training in prisoner management and health and safety will also be increased.
All frontline staff will receive additional training in de-escalation techniques, interpersonal skills and tactical communications.
In addition, the Department will be providing new safety equipment including batons, pepper spray, spit hoods and stab proof vests.
An independent health and safety analysis commissioned by the Department confirms the mitigation strategies put in place mean there is no greater risk of assault on staff from increasing double bunking at the selected sites.
Corrections already operates a significant number of double bunked cells across the country and these are well managed. However, robust operational procedures will be developed prior to increasing double bunking at the new facilities to maximise the safety of prisoners who are sharing a cell.
All prisoners who are double bunked will be carefully assessed prior to being accommodated with another prisoner to minimise the risk of incident.
Maximum security prisoners will not be double bunked. At Risk Units, Management Units and Youth Units will also not be double bunked given the nature of the prisoners held in these units.
The Department will also be maintaining current levels of unlock and access to activity for prisoners in shared cells.
Corrections will maintain current levels of prisoner access to rehabilitative activities such as employment, education and treatment programmes. Access to services such as health units will also be maintained.
Infrastructure changes are required at the new facilities to ensure they are able to manage the increased number of prisoners.
An assessment of the current and required infrastructure has been conducted at each of the prison sites. The infrastructure changes required vary by site but will include:
It is proposed that increased double bunking will be implemented at Otago Corrections Facility, Spring Hill Corrections Facility and Northland Region Corrections Facility from February 2010 and at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility from September 2010.
Increased double bunking will also be available at Mt Eden/Auckland Central Remand Prison once the current stage one redevelopment of the site is completed in July 2011.
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