Last month I was pleased to open two new prisoner health facilities at Hawkes Bay Prison, including a new drug and alcohol treatment unit and a new general-purpose health unit.
Addressing prisoners’ health needs is a pivotal part of the Government’s Effective Interventions programme, which is aimed at reducing re-offending and bringing down re-imprisonment rates.
For prisoners in Hawkes Bay these units will quite literally be the first step back on the road to recovery – the road to their and the community’s improved well-being.”
By the middle of next year the number of Drug and Alcohol treatment places open to prisoners will be more than 500 a year.
Consider 60 percent of offenders are affected by alcohol or drugs at the time of their conviction, the need for facilities such as this is evident.
Research shows that offenders who have been through a treatment unit are 13 per cent less likely to be re-imprisoned after 24 months than if they had not attended treatment.
In Hamilton this month I presented certificates to seven graduates of the 10-week Montgomery House programme for violent offenders. I sincerely hope the programme has given them the tools, skills, knowledge and ability to create positive changes in their lives. I appreciated the opportunity to meet frontline staff and get a real sense of the passion they have for their work.
Prisoner transport has been in the spotlight this month and I am very pleased the Ombudsmen’s report identified areas which need change. Since Liam Ashley’s death, the department has been focussed on every aspect of prisoner transport and the Ombudsmen’s report provides a valuable contribution to this work.
Further projects include a review of vehicle design and national standards for vehicles.
Corrections has a responsibility to protect the public and prison staff while also doing everything it can to provide a safe environment for prisoners.
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ISSN 1178-8453