NEW community sentences are now a reality for the Department of Corrections.
From 1 October we will be administering three new sentences, following on from the passage of the Criminal Justice Reform Bill in July.
I want to personally thank the large number of staff who have worked so hard to make this happen. Over the past 18 months it has been a major collaborative effort across groups within Corrections, and a close liaison with our counterparts in Justice.
The new sentences – stand-alone Home Detention, Intensive Supervision, and Community Detention – will add a third to the workload of the probation arm of our Community Probation & Psychological Services (CPPS).
They are a major component of the first initiatives within the Government’s Effective Interventions package to reduce crime and prisoner numbers (for more on the new community sentences please see our story on p3).
Other initiatives which Corrections is implementing are the new Special Treatment Units for the 300-hour rehabilitation programme for high risk offenders; additional drug treatment units in prisons, and new programmes in the community such as driving and life skills courses.
The “second round” of Effective Interventions is currently being developed across Government agencies and I will keep you informed about how that will impact on us.
I am mindful that CPPS, IT, and other groups still have much work ahead of them in implementing the new sentences. I’m sure you join me in wishing everyone involved all the best in achieving this implementation within the tight deadlines.
Corrections has witnessed and undergone many changes in the 11 years since the Department was established.
Average daily prison numbers have risen from 4951 in 1996, to 8282 in the current year, mostly as a result of tougher sentencing.
In 1996 New Zealand had 18 prisons. By the end of this year we will have 20 – some of which have almost doubled in size as Corrections has responded to meet the demand for prisoner beds.
Our four newest prisons in Northland, Otago, Auckland and Waikato were built to absorb increased prison numbers, replace outdated institutions constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and enable the refurbishment of other prisons.
In addition to demand for beds well exceeding forecasts, the change of focus from incarceration to rehabilitation and reintegration has had a profound impact on Corrections.
Prison Services has re-evaluated its direction and we are planning very carefully for our future. Armed with the knowledge that our key responsibilities are to protect the public and reduce re-offending; manage offenders safely, securely and humanely; and provide offenders with opportunities to turn their lives around and reintegrate successfully into society, Corrections is restructuring its Prison Services to help us achieve this.
Our key focus is ensuring that Prison Services are well placed to address future challenges – be they increasing prison numbers, changes in Government and Ministry policy or changes in society as a whole.
The fact Corrections staff are undertaking two major restructures in Head Office and Prison Services this year illustrates our commitment to organisational development and the need to plan and prepare for the future.
As we move forward we will improve on how we manage offenders and that quite rightly interests and affects our fellow Justice Sector agencies and the public.
Barry Matthews
Chief Executive
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ISSN 1178-8453