For Northland Regional Corrections Facility (NRCF) Prison Manager Mike Hughes, Friday April 29 2005 will be marked forever in his memory.
“This was the day when all the planning and preparation we had done was put to the test with the arrival of our first prisoners,” he says.
Mike says it’s been a challenging year for staff who had to adapt to the new and untested environment which comes with opening a new prison.
“We started with only a handful of prisoners coming in our early weeks, but this grew and we were full by late October,” says Mike.
Most members of the NRCF management team were working towards the opening for at least a year, and other experienced staff arrived three months before the opening.
Newly-recruited staff arrived progressively over the first six months, during which time the prison muster grew at a rate of around 15 prisoners per week.
Mike is proud of the work his managers and staff have done to ensure a very successful first 12 months of operation.
“The transition from new prison to business-as-usual has been difficult at times, but our staff have met the challenge and our staff retention rates look good, particularly when compared to similar overseas facilities,” he says.
NRCF is the first of four new regional corrections facilities. The others still currently under construction are the Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility in Manukau, the Spring Hill Corrections Facility in North Waikato and the Otago Region Corrections Facility in Milton.
“We were as well-prepared as possible, but there’s always the chance that something might happen. We focused on security and safety aspects, and have had no serious incidents since opening,” Mike says.
He credits kaitiaki (the guardians of site) with playing an instrumental role in both setting up the facility and ongoing developments since.
“They provided advice about construction and design. But crucially, they’re now helping rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners back into the community.”
Mike is also working with educational organisations to provide educational courses for prisoners which will help them find employment on release.
“It‘s common knowledge that prisoners learn skills and are happier when they are busy working or constructively employed.
Northland Polytechnic is providing prisoners with 20-week courses in carpentry, forestry and horticulture - they will be able to graduate just like other students in the community.”
There are also plans for an eight-month sport and recreation course, which could begin as soon as May this year.
Got a story for Corrections News or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
ISSN 1178-8453