It is the role of the Strategy, Policy & Planning (SPP) group to provide specialist and strategic advice to inform decision making by the Minister for Corrections, the Chief Executive, the Executive Management team and across the Department.
SPP is the group that ensures that strategies developed throughout the Department for improving public safety and reducing re-offending are co-ordinated and align with Departmental strategy.
The SPP group provides strategic planning, policy development and advice, research and evaluation and co-ordinates the development of corporate, operational and strategic business plans for the Department.
Strategy, Policy & Planning advises the Minister and Chief Executive on policy initiatives, on legislative and resourcing implications and as a particular focus, on interventions that may help to reduce re-offending.
The Group also has oversight of operational policy within the Department to encourage sharing of knowledge, learning and experience and to ensure consistency with Departmental policies and decisions. SPP Group contributes to the efficient operation of the New Zealand Parole Board and assists the Board to meets its statutory responsibilities by providing centralised administrative support services.
SPP maintains a "whole of justice sector" perspective and works in partnership with all groups and services within the Department, other Government agencies, the community and international corrections and justice jurisdictions to improve public safety and reduce re-offending.
There are six teams within Strategy, Policy & Planning:
- Sector and Legislative Policy provide Corrections input to work across the Justice Sector and wider social sector policy development, strategy and legislation. Examples of current work include: Corrections and Justice sector legislation, advice on contract management of prisons, sexual violence prevention, family violence prevention and improving offenders’ access to treatment for alcohol and other drugs.
- Corrections Policy provide policy advice and develop strategies for the Department on more effective management of offenders. Examples of recent work include the prisoner skills and employment strategy, the Drug Strategy, a review of the evidence for prison policy settings, work on managing violent and disruptive offenders, the capacity challenges facing community probation and meeting the need for future prison capacity.
- Māori and Pacific Policy provide policy advice to improve Department effectiveness and as a contribution to wider Justice sector and Government policy on better outcomes for Māori and Pacific offenders, with a particular emphasis on reducing re-offending among these groups. Because Māori are statistically over-represented at every stage of the criminal justice process (Māori currently make up nearly 50% of the prison population), this team works particularly closely with agencies such as the Ministry of Justice, NZ Police and Te Puni Kokiri. Recent work includes a review of the Māori Focus Unit policy and the development of the Whare Oranga Ake prisoner reintegration model.
- Strategy and Research analyse trends in offending and reducing re-offending, evaluate rehabilitation success, manage the Department’s research and evaluation programme, and more broadly, undertake analysis of important issues for the department. The team also produces the annual Offender Volumes Report which has replaced the prison census, and data on rehabilitation programme success and recidivism rates.
- Strategic Planning develops and maintains a strategic planning framework that establishes arrangements for the review of the Strategic Business Plan and other longer term plans as well as promoting understanding of the Department’s strategic direction and goals. The team is responsible for ensuring the Department complies with all external accountability requirements, namely the production of Corrections’ Strategic Business Plan, the annual Statement of Intent, and the quarterly and annual reports. Strategic Planning co-ordinates departmental strategic activities with other Justice agencies in working towards justice sector outcomes.
- New Zealand Parole Board (NZPB) Administrative Support Service and Victim Services provides centralised administrative support services to support the efficient operation of the New Zealand Parole Board and assist the Board to meets its statutory responsibilities. The team also manages the delivery of Victim Services.
