Trying different slices of the careers pie - youth prisoners
will soon be able to sample different work opportunities.
Youth prisoners will soon be able to whet their appetite for work, with a new plan to expand the range of work experience available to them.
National Corrections Inmate Employment Manager Brent Maughan says youth prisoners (those aged 15-18) will soon be able to sample all available training opportunities at their prison site - and then choose an industry they enjoy.
“The majority of these prisoners have no work experience or skills. We want to get them excited about learning a trade,” says Brent.
As part of their sentence plan, youth prisoners will be encouraged to undergo one to two week introductory courses in each of the industry streams available - which may include joinery, catering, forestry and engineering.
“The courses will give them a very basic introduction into what they can expect from working in each of the industries. Then they can select one to continue their training,” says Brent.
Instructors will provide training to youth prisoners that will fit around their other rehabilitative programmes and schooling.
“We want as many youth prisoners as possible getting some type of employment training,” says Brent.
There are currently over 80 prisoners in the youth units at Rimutaka, Christchurch, Hawke’s Bay and Waikeria prisons.
While youth prisoners are classified as those under the age of 18, some youth units also hold prisoners who are between 18 and 19 years of age who are deemed vulnerable.
Brent says offenders under the age of 20 years have the highest recidivism rate, with almost 67 per cent reconvicted within 12 months after release or completion of their community-based sentence.
“Research indicates that prisoners who find sustainable work on release are less likely to re-offend.
“These prisoners are only teenagers and we can give them an opportunity to turn their lives around so they don’t spend their adult years in and out of prison.”
All training will be in place by early 2008. The range of training offered may vary at each prison, but includes catering, joinery, engineering, horticulture, agriculture and forestry.
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ISSN 1178-8453