By the time you read this, the Government's package of proposed changes to the justice system will be very much in the public domain.
The package contains a series of pragmatic solutions to address the growing realisation that we are, as a society, locking up far too many people. This is a drain on both our social and economic resources, which as a small country we can barely afford. As a society of innovators, there must be a better way to tackle crime.
From a Corrections point of view, these changes will mean we do some things differently. The department will, of course, continue to do what it does really well - protect society.
But with a new focus on being smarter in the way we as a country deal with crime, the corrections system we administer will have at its core a far greater emphasis on rehabilitation.
This expansion of meaningful, well-targeted interventions for offenders on community sentences or in prison will go a long way to reducing rates of re-offending.
Corrections is well-placed to meet these challenges head on. It might be only 11 years old - not even a teenager - but it has come a long way since it split from Justice in 1995.
Since its formation, it has developed and been an international leader in assessment of offenders, psychological services, sentencing planning and rehabilitation programmes.
In typical New Zealand fashion, the approach has been a pragmatic one, grounded less in ideology and more in results. Now it is time to look once again at what works and step up to the challenge of really turning people’s lives around.
How is this going to be done? Part and parcel is to ensure the policy and legislation settings are right and that the focus is on providing meaningful interventions in the community, before a person's offending escalates so that prison becomes the only option.
So, alongside a new range of community-based sentences for the Judiciary to consider, Corrections will now place greater emphasis on programmes and interventions in the community.
For those that go inside the wire, serving long sentences, the Department will challenge and confront their behaviour through additional treatment units and by proving more employment and education opportunities.
These changes will be in steps and expected results will take some time to flow through. But they will happen. They will happen because Corrections employs many good and committed people who are determined to make a real difference in their jobs.
We have a busy and exciting time ahead. Let's make it work.
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ISSN 1178-8453