New Plymouth Prison is the country's oldest operational prison and accommodates 112 minimum to high-medium security prisoners. The prison also accommodates offenders on remand.
The prison was originally an army hospital in the 1860s during the Taranaki land wars. The site was converted to a prison later that decade and has been in use ever since.
New Plymouth Prison employs 65 staff and is located in the central city. It is part of Prison Services' Central Region.
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Further information
Security
Reducing re-offending
Motivational programmes
Cognitive-behavioural programmes
Cultural Responsiveness Plan
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 New Plymouth Prison accommodates a range of prisoners, the level of physical security differs across the prison site.
Minimum security parts of the prison have a lower level of physical security features because these prisoners have been assessed as a minimal risk to the public and pose a minimal internal risk to the operational elements of the prison.
The prison consists of two residential units, the old jail which is surrounded by a large stone wall topped with razor wire to prevent it being climbed and a newer unit which is surrounded by a large fence topped with barbed wire.
Anyone entering New Plymouth Prison, including staff, may be subject to a search to prevent contraband being taken into the prison.
New Plymouth Prison has a drug dog team available to perform searches on visitors, staff and their vehicles as well as regular cell and grounds searches.
Electronic security devices, cameras and closed circuit TV are also used at New Plymouth Prison.
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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.
New Plymouth 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 and are motivated to make constructive changes in their lives.
Every prisoner entering New Plymouth Prison receives a sentence plan which they are required to comply with.
The focus of the sentence plan is on reducing the risk of them 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 and interventions to address the underlying causes of their offending.
Motivational programmes
Motivational programmes are designed to increase motivation and to encourage and prepare prisoners to confront the causes of their offending.
While New Plymouth Prison does not undertake motivational programmes, prisoners are able to undertake these programmes by transferring to another prison.
There are two primary motivational programmes used in 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.
Prisoners at New Plymouth Prison are able to undertake the Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme and the Short Rehabilitation Programme as part of their sentence plan. Prisoners are transferred to other prisons to undertake these programmes.
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Cultural Responsiveness Plan
New Plymouth Prison's Cultural Responsiveness Plan recognises the particular needs of Maori prisoners by:
The objective of the Cultural Responsiveness Plan is to implement cultural initiatives designed to improve teamwork, standards of professionalism and the development of a positive and proactive environment for both prisoners and staff and to ensure both community and iwi involvement in the prison's initiatives.
The way in which this is achieved is through the provision of Tikanga Maori programmes for prisoners, whanau days, external groups visits, Marae visits, Marae based work parties, staff cultural training, the establishment of key stakeholder networks and bi-monthly meetings with the Cultural Development Group, which includes all community groups, Taranaki Maori and other stakeholders.
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 found more than 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 a decreased number of prisoners being reconvicted.
New Plymouth Prison offers three main types of employment:
• internal self-sufficiency activities such as food preparation and laundry
• business-like industries including a nursery
• prison work parties, engaging in non-profit community-based activities.
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 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 employment 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.
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 three main types of education offered to prisoners at New Plymouth Prison:
- Foundations Skills allows prisoners to develop their reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking, numeracy, and problem solving skills
- Trade and Technical National Certificates offered by Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics and delivered in prisons
- Self-Directed Tertiary Study distance learning initiated by prisoners and supported by the Department.
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.
New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth Prison to address their specific reintegrative needs and help them prepare for release in the community.
The Ministry of Social Development have Work and Income work brokers and case managers permanently based at New Plymouth 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.
New Plymouth Prison has a strong relationship with local iwi and hapu. The prison has strong ongoing input from the Cultural Development Group in the area, which is made up of representatives from the iwi groupings in Taranaki.
New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth Prison.
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.