Providing training and opportunities for offenders on Community Work is a major focus of the Riverslea Community Trust. Founder Roberta Karangaroa believes that keeping track of offenders is the key to its success.
The Trust was founded about eight years ago. The last three years’ records show 233 of 251 community workers were still offence-free in March. Another key factor behind these numbers according to Roberta is her solid working relationship with probation officers in both Hastings and Napier.
If Community Work is completed for an agency, such as Riverslea Trust, probation officers will check if offenders complete their hours and work to the required standard. Roberta: “Working collectively with CPPS staff and offenders has seen great results for our communities!”
Tracking
“I really think that keeping track of people is the key,” says Roberta. “For example, I am supporting this 17 year-old boy who ended up in the court system for stealing food and clothing. He did this because he was living on the streets. But now he not only has a stable home and income, he is also doing a mechanical and a literacy course. I will continue to support him until I see that he is OK but I am certain he will be.
“In general, two out of five offences are committed due to personal circumstances and the need to cope with daily survival. So I believe that it is essential to deal with the reasons behind the crime. Most people will stay crime free if they have dealt with those reasons. There is always a story that has led to the black hole in their lives. If you listen to that story, you can help offenders solve their problems.”
Strong Support
Roberta wears many hats and has a huge network: “Everyone in Hastings is very supportive. We are not government funded but rely on our many activities for income such as selling walnuts. We also make garden boxes and grow our own vegetables to support the budget of the trust. The trust has the strong support of our many volunteers.”
The Trust is always on the lookout for new community projects. These can range from the cleaning of graffiti to tree felling and cutting up the wood for the elderly. The community work supports parks, schools and local marae.
“Our recent project supports a school traffic safety programme,” says Roberta. “The solution was extending the school car park so the children could be dropped off and picked up safely. To achieve this the dental clinic had to be moved and this is where the community workers came in.
“We are open to any request that comes into our office. I also do a lot of networking to find out what is required. It’s about bringing the whole community whānau together!”
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Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
Community Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections. Contact details for Community Probation & Psychological Services can be found here or by looking under C for Corrections in the Government listings of the Telecom White Pages.
ISSN 1178-1327