Hawke’s Bay Prison opened in 1989 to replace the old Napier prison, which was closed in 1993. The Prison has grown substantially since it opened and now accommodates 666 prisoners. It accommodates prisoners with security classification ratings ranging from minimum to high-medium as well as prisoners on remand.
Located south of Hastings, Hawke’s Bay Prison employs 325 staff and is part of Prison Services' Central Region.
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Further information
Security
Reducing re-offending
Motivational programmes
Cognitive-behavioural programmes
Specialist units
Prisoner employment
Education
Reintegration
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.
Because Hawke’s Bay Prison accommodates prisoners assessed as a potential risk to the public, the level of physical security is higher than at some other prisons.
The Prison is surrounded by a highly lit perimeter fence. Each unit within that perimeter has it’s own security fence with lighting surveillance and detection equipment.
Hawke’s Bay Prison is also a single point of entry prison. Everyone entering the prison, including staff, must pass through this entrance where they may be subject to searches for contraband at any time.
Hawke’s Bay Prison has a drug dog team available to search prison and visitor vehicles, and prison grounds for contraband.
Electronic security devices and cameras, closed circuit TV, video motion detectors and microwave sensors are also used at Hawke’s Bay Prison.
Reducing re-offending
Reducing re-offending is critical if the Department is to meet its overriding objective of improving public safety.
Reducing re-offending means fewer offenders commit crime after completing their sentence – resulting in fewer victims, a reduction in the cost of crime and safer communities.
Hawke’s Bay Prison provides prisoners with a range of rehabilitation programmes and interventions that are designed to address the primary causes of their offending and prepare them for release.
The most intensive interventions are targeted at prisoners who are assessed as being a high-risk of re-offending, that have severe needs that caused their offending and are motivated to make positive changes in their lives.
Every prisoner entering Hawke’s Bay Prison receives a sentence plan which they are expected to comply with.
The focus of the sentence plan is on reducing re-offending on release and is developed following an assessment of a prisoner’s risk, needs and motivation.
This ensures they are placed on the most appropriate and timely programmes to address the underlying causes of their offending.
Rehabilitation programmes and interventions provided at Hawke’s Bay Prison fall into four main categories: motivational, cognitive-behavioural, employment and education, and reintegrative.
Motivational programmes
Motivational programmes are designed to increase motivation and to encourage and prepare prisoners to confront the causes of their offending.
There are two primary motivational programmes used at Hawke’s Bay Prison: the Tikanga Maori Programme and the Short Motivational Programme.
Tikanga Maori programmes use Maori philosophy, values, knowledge and practice to help prisoners increase their understanding of their Maori identity and their values, and improve their self-esteem to help them become motivated to address the causes of their offending.
The Short Motivational Programme aims to increase motivation by increasing a prisoner’s problem awareness and recognition, reducing ambivalence, addressing cognitive distortions, and helping them consider options and formulate goals.
Cognitive-behavioural programmes
Cognitive-behavioural programmes aim to reduce re-offending by helping prisoners address the causes of their offending and teach them to identify, analyse and solve problems and make decisions to better their lives.
Prisoners also learn how to understand the consequences of their actions and gain control over their own behaviour.
Hawke’s Bay Prison provides two general cognitive-behavioural programmes.
The Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme is designed for prisoners in the middle risk range – those not considered high-risk but still enough of a risk to warrant rehabilitation.
The programme increases problem awareness and recognition, reduces ambivalence, addresses cognitive distortions, and teaches prisoners to consider options and formulate goals.
The Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme targets a range of prisoners and is designed to cover the common elements of offending.
The Focus Programme is provided to young male prisoners. Focus provides a foundation for behavioural change and many of the concepts taught relate to situations youth prisoners are required to deal with on a recurring basis as part of their daily life.
Ongoing participation in the programme encourages prisoners to apply these concepts outside the classroom, over an extended period of time, to the point where the new behaviours are adopted.
Specialist units
Hawke’s Bay Prison also has a number of specialist units which provide long and intensive rehabilitation programmes aimed at specific causes of offending.
Hawke’s Bay Prison’s Drug Treatment Unit provides a specialist 24-week residential drug and alcohol programme.
The programme includes one-to-one and group cognitive-behavioural therapy, education on addiction and change, along with education about building new skills – especially social skills.
Hawke’s Bay also has one of New Zealand’s five Maori Focus Units.
The unit, Te Whare Tirohanga Maori, establishes a culturally appropriate environment in which prisoners can address issues relating to their offending.
The Maori Focus Unit is constituted on tikanga Maori principles and operate within a tikanga Maori environment.
Through the practice of Maori values and disciplines, and specialist Maori programmes, the unit aims to bring about positive changes in thinking and behaviour.
Hawke’s Bay Prison’s Youth Unit accommodates prisoners under the age of 18 and prisoners aged 18-19 who are deemed to be vulnerable in the mainstream prison environment.
Youth prisoners are offered a range of psychological, educational and vocational training in as normal an environment as possible within a prison setting.
The Focus rehabilitation programme is also provided to prisoners in the Youth Unit.
Prisoner employment
Prisoner employment, managed by Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE), plays an integral part in the rehabilitation of prisoners as it provides prisoners with essential work skills and habits.
The last prison census in 2003 found that over half of all prisoners were not in paid employment prior to sentencing.
Prisoner employment increases the chance a prisoner will find sustainable work on release and research shows this will result in less prisoners being reconvicted.
Hawke’s Bay Prison offers three main types of employment:
• internal self-sufficiency activities such as food preparation and laundry
• business-like industries including a dry stock farm and a joinery workshop
• commercial work parties, primarily in the forestry and horticulture sectors.
Prisoners are able to earn credits under the National Qualification Framework, allowing them to work towards qualifications whilst they are engaged in employment and training.
Minimum security prisoners who are nearing release may also be eligible to participate in Release to Work.
Release to Work is a form of temporary release that allows prisoners to be in paid work in the community during the day.
It provides prisoners with a stable work record and the job is often carried on after a prisoner’s release from prison.
Education
There is a strong relationship between a lack of education and criminal behaviour.
At the time of the last prison census in 2003, 51.7 per cent of all prisoners had no formal qualifications.
Educational achievement and participation can equip prisoners for self-sufficiency and reduce the barriers to living an offence-free life.
A prisoner can enrol in any subject or education programme they consider themselves capable of achieving.
There are five main types of education offered to prisoners at Hawke’s Bay Prison:
In addition, computer and hobby classes are also available.
Reintegration
Reintegration programmes address problems likely to increase a prisoners’ risk of re-offending on release.
Being imprisoned can have significant social consequences for a prisoner.
They are likely to have lost their job and accommodation, they are unlikely to be able to support their families and their relationships can be adversely affected in other ways. Combined, this can lead offenders into a cycle of institutionalisation.
Hawke’s Bay Prison provides two reintegrative programmes:
• Living Skills which is a broad-based programme to give prisoners skills and knowledge on how to function effectively in society on their release
• Parenting Skills which is a group programme designed to teach parenting and relationship skills.
Reintegration case-workers also work with high-need prisoners at Hawke’s Bay Prison to address their specific reintegrative needs and help them prepare for release in the community.
Hawke’s Bay Prison also has Self-Care Units where longer-serving prisoners may be eligible to spend time as they near release.
These are residential-style units inside the prison that let prisoners get used to living in a flatting type environment and give prisoners an opportunity to learn and practise the skills they will need to live independently after release.
The Living Skills Programme is also delivered in the Self-Care Units and many prisoners participate in the Release to Work programme.
The Ministry of Social Development have Work and Income work brokers and case managers permanently based at Hawke’s Bay Prison to help prisoners nearing release to find suitable work before they are released.
Prisoners who find sustainable employment on release are less likely to re-offend.
Working with the community
The community has an important role to play in the rehabilitation and transition of prisoners back into the community by supporting and encouraging prisoners to live an offence free life.
Many sectors of the community are involved in rehabilitating offenders and helping them move back into the community.
Hawke’s Bay Prison has a strong relationship with local hapu, Ngati Poporo and Ngati Rahunga-i-te-Rangi.
Kaumatua come into the prison and mentor prisoners and also sit on the Runanga Committee of the Maori Focus Unit.
Hawke’s Bay Prison also works with a number of support agencies, including New Zealand Prisoner’s Aid and Rehabilitation Society (NZPARS), Prison Fellowship and the Salvation Army to support the successful reintegration of prisoners back into the community.
A large number of people also regularly donate their time, energy and expertise as volunteers with Hawke’s Bay Prison.
Volunteers provide invaluable support for prisoners and their families and give prisoners the opportunity to spend their free time constructively through music, art and sport.