Samoa is looking to Corrections for help in improving its probation and parole service.
“Our society is changing and we are getting more serious offending. Our objective is to integrate our probation and judiciary system with international practice,” says Samoa’s Chief Probation and Parole Officer Rita Lamese Ale.
Samoa’s legislative and judiciary processes are currently based on a New Zealand model from the 1970s and they need to be updated, she says. For example, presentencing reports completed for someone who has committed murder are the same as those filed for a petty thief.
Rita recently spent a month in New Zealand gathering information on the operation of Corrections’ Probation and Offender Services. Her visit stemmed from a cooperation agreement signed between Corrections and Samoa’s Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration last year.
“We’ve asked the New Zealand Government for assistance to strengthen our institutional programme in the Ministry of Justice and the courts,” says Rita.
While here, Rita saw how Corrections manages day-to-day aspects of the Community Probation Service (CPS). This included looking at assessment and interviewing processes, sentence planning and management of offenders, and managing a service centre and its staff. She also visited several prisons to observe and learn more about the reintegration aspects of managing offenders following their release back into the community.
National Adviser Maori Service Development Lawrence Tawera was involved in a review of the Samoan probation and parole service last year and he worked closely with Rita during her visit here.
Samoa is aiming to combine traditional village justice practices with those of the Western criminal justice system. “We are trying to find the best ways we can merge traditional systems with contemporary practices. For instance, Samoa wants to formally recognise the role of church ministers and village councils,” says Lawrence.
CPS is now involved with NZAid in formally working to make improvements to Samoa’s probation and parole service. Lesley Campbell, an experienced area manager, has been seconded to Samoa for 12 months to assist as a technical adviser.
During her visit Rita met Chief Executive Barry Matthews, who she presented with a wooden clock adorned with the tools of the traditional kava ceremony, representing authority and power.
“On behalf of our Ministry I am very grateful to Corrections for making staff available so I can see how things operate here. We really value the support and assistance very much. We hope that this partnership will continue into the long term,” says Rita.
Samoa’s Chief Probation and Parole Officer Rita Lamese Ale
presents Chief Executive Barry Matthews with a gift from Samoa.
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ISSN 1178-8453