When the court sentences an offender to imprisonment they become the responsibility of the Department of Corrections.
The law's intention is that the offender is sent to prison as punishment, not for punishment. Corrections' intention is to provide a safe, secure and humane environment in which to manage prisoners, focus on their rehabilitation and work towards their eventual release back into the community.
When they first arrive in prison, prisoners are made aware of their rights and responsibilities under the law. They are also given information on the rules, routines and procedures of the prison they have been sent to.
Prisoners are assessed against set criteria including factors such as offence, previous history, escape risk and mental health history. The prisoner is then assigned an initial security classification which helps determine where they are housed.
The size of units or wings varies from prison to prison but generally they hold 60-80 prisoners. Prisoners at most prisons have their own cells, but some prisons have cells that can accommodate two beds.
Prisoners can have their opportunity to associate with other prisoners restricted or denied if a prison manager decides a prisoner poses a risk to themselves or to others, if a prisoner asks to be segregated, or on the recommendations of a medical officer. Segregated prisoners do not mix with prisoners in the general prison population but may mix with other segregated prisoners. Segregated prisoners are managed under the same rules, routines and procedures as other prisoners, although some exceptions may apply in some circumstances.
Prisoners on remand are in prison because they are either waiting for their case to be heard or have been found guilty and are waiting to be sentenced. Prisoners on remand are housed separately from the main prison population but are subject to the same rules, routines and procedures as sentenced prisoners. Time spent in remand is taken into account when determining the prisoner's final release date.
Each prisoner is given an initial health check when they first arrive. This will determine any special needs the prisoner may have or any treatment that is immediately required. The prison medical officer carries out a more thorough examination later. Health staff in each prison cater for day-to-day health needs and corrections officers are trained to identify potential health problems.
If a prisoner needs hospital treatment their case is assessed individually and appropriate arrangements made. Prisoners are entitled to the same level of care they would normally receive in the community.
All remand and sentenced prisoners undergo a health assessment on entry to prison. This process identifies any immediate and long-term needs the individual may have within the prison environment, and ensures that these needs are addressed appropriately.
Each prisoner receives three meals a day. Menus are set according to food and nutrition guidelines set by the Ministry of Health. Prisons can also cater for special dietary requirements. The preparation and serving of food is a prisoner employment activity and some prisons are able to grow some of their own produce. The menu costs approximately $4 per day per prisoner for all three meals.
Clothing worn varies from prison to prison. Some prisoners wear prison clothing, others may be able to wear some of their own clothing. Gang-related clothing or paraphernalia is not permitted. Each prison has its own laundry facility.
Each prisoner is given a copy of the rules of the prison and has access to the Policy and Procedures Manual for New Zealand Prisons.
A prisoner who breaks these rules or commits an offence can be dealt with by a number of different procedures. These could include an internal misconduct charge heard by an authorised officer or a Visiting Justice; or Police action under criminal law.
All prisons have visits. However, times and arrangements vary between each prison. Each prisoner is generally entitled to a minimum of one 30-minute visit per week. They can also request to see a chaplain, a kaiwhakamana (Maori specified visitor) or a Fautua Pasefika (Pacific specified visitor).
Statutory visitors such as an Inspector, Ombudsman or Visiting Justice may visit a prison and have access to a prisoner/s or staff at any time as long as the visit is consistent with the visitor's statutory duties.
A prisoner is allowed to write and receive letters. Prisoners may also purchase phone cards and make calls to a list of approved numbers.
Every prisoner is given an individual assessment that identifies the most suitable programmes and activities for them. These may include education, employment activities, or programmes that look at how and why someone came to be in prison in the first place.
A sentence plan that includes goals and objectives is then drawn up by the prison and agreed to by the prisoner.