Support to prevent newly-released prisoners from re-offending is set to increase as reintegration caseworkers start work in prisons around the country.
Chief Executive Barry Matthews says the reintegration caseworkers will help prisoners prepare for life in the community once they are released and provide a significant boost to our existing reintegration efforts.
“Research shows that a smooth transition from prison to the community can help prisoners find a crime-free life. Many prisoners can prepare themselves for release, but some have complex reintegration needs and some, such as young people and women, often need more help getting their lives back together. These are the prisoners reintegration caseworkers will work with,” he says.
Prisoners often have poor employment histories and few qualifications. Many also have significant behavioural, alcohol or drug problems, and some have had difficulty in the past finding somewhere to live. Reintegration caseworkers will help prisoners find somewhere to live, get a job, make contact with appropriate government and community agencies and other life activities that newly released prisoners often have trouble with.
“Reintegration caseworkers support prisoners to turn their lives around and become crime-free,” says Barry. “This benefits our communities by ensuring that prisoners are as well-prepared as possible to contribute positively to society on release.”
The reintegration caseworkers are part of regional reintegration teams together with whanau liaison workers and social workers. These prison-based teams support prisoners by addressing their social, living, and reintegration needs from their reception to their release.
Whanau liaison workers work with prisoners in Maori focus units. Social workers help new prisoners with immediate needs such as child access or mother and baby issues, and with long-term needs. In addition, the regional reintegration teams will work closely with existing reintegration support services such as the Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society, Prison Fellowship New Zealand and prison-based Work and Income teams.
“We are working across the board to reduce re-offending,” says Mr Matthews. “In the coming years I hope to see many more initiatives that are as strong as the employment of the reintegration caseworkers.”
Easing the transition from prison to the community to help lessen the likelihood of reoffending -
L-R: Regional Reintegration Team Managers Karen Pellow, Christine O'Brien, Kevin Watene, Wendy Miller-Burgering, Tracey Rowe.
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