Auckland Central Remand Prison (ACRP) opened in July 2000 and is the main reception prison for newly remanded male prisoners in the Auckland region. ACRP can accommodate a maximum of 432 prisoners, including up to 32 sentenced prisoners who assist with internal self-sufficiency activities such as food preparation and cleaning.
The prison was specifically designed for remand prisoners. Remand offenders generally spend a short period of time in prison, so there is a high turnover of prisoners. The accommodation units allow prisoners to be segregated into manageable groups.
ACRP employs 184 staff and is part of Prison Services' Northern Region.
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Further information
Security
Specialist units
Motivational programmes
Cognitive-behavioural programmes
Prisoner employment
Working with the community
Security
Protecting the public is the Department’s highest priority and this is accomplished through the secure incarceration of prisoners.
The level of physical security at each prison varies and is dependant on the type of prisoner accommodated. As remand prisoners are managed the same as prisoners who have a high-medium security classification, there is a high level of security.
ACRP has a single controlled point of entry and is surrounded by a fence topped with razor wire. Everyone entering the prison is liable to be searched and those entering the facility are required to pass through a metal detector and staff at the entrance have hand held scanners.
Electronic security devices and cameras, closed circuit TV, video motion detectors and microwave sensors are used throughout the prison.
Specialist units
ACRP has two specialist units that are designed to cater for prisoners that have higher care requirements than the mainstream prison population.
The Special Needs Unit is capable of holding 22 prisoners and provides 24-hour management and treatment of prisoners identified as being at risk of harming themselves. Such prisoners may have a history of psychiatric illness.
Prisoners identified as "at risk" are managed by a High Risk Assessment Team which includes a psychiatric nurse and psychologists.
There is also a Management Unit, which is capable of accommodating up to 19 prisoners who require higher levels of management and supervision than the mainstream population.
Motivational programmes
The majority of the prisoners at ACRP are serving remand sentences, which means they will either be sentenced and sent to another facility or will be released. For this reason, limited motivational programmes are provided.
Prisoners can attend the Tikanga Maori Programme, which uses Maori philosophy, values, knowledge and practice to help prisoners increase their understanding of their Maori identity and their values, and improve their self-esteem so they become motivated to address the causes of their offending.
Cognitive-behavioural programmes
As the majority of prisoners accommodated at ACRP are on remand and yet to be sentenced, cognitive-behavioural programmes are not provided.
Prisoners will be transferred to another facility if sentenced to a term of imprisonment and they will then be assessed for their rehabilitative needs.
Prisoner employment
The majority of remand prisoners are not involved in the internal or external employment available at the facility due to their high security rating.
Those that are involved can work in the laundry and kitchen, assist with cleaning, and a small number work in textiles and painting.
There are also 32 sentenced inmates at ACRP that assist with the running of the facility by cleaning and working in the kitchen.
Working with the community
ACRP works closely with the cultural advisers in the Northern Region to provide some short site-specific programmes for offenders.
These often take the form of open forums and cultural days involving all ethnic groups including Pacific, Maori, and Asian.
ACRP also works with a number of support agencies, including New Zealand Prisoner's Aid and Rehabilitation Society (NZPARS), Prison Fellowship and the Salvation Army.
A number of people also regularly donate their time, energy and expertise as volunteers with ACRP.
Volunteers provide invaluable support for prisoners and their families and give prisoners the opportunity to spend their free time constructively through music, art or sport.