Rimutaka Prison’s Drug Treatment Unit (DTU) celebrated its first birthday in October amid news that a record 45 prisoners had successfully completed the programme over the last year.
“Eleven of the 14 prisoners enrolled in the first intake, and 13 of the 15 enrolled in the second intake completed the programme successfully,” said Rimutaka Prison Manager Tony Howe.
“But while it’s great to achieve record results it’s not what we’re here to do. The DTU runs a very rigorous course and no one gets a free ride. The therapy and custodial staff work together to keep prisoners focused on the programme. If staff aren’t confident that a prisoner has completed part of the course satisfactorily they don’t graduate until they are up
to scratch.
“Sixty per cent of offenders are affected by alcohol or drugs at the time of their offending so it’s very clear that we need to get as many suitable prisoners into this programme as possible.”
Tony said the DTU’s intensive programme provides motivated prisoners with the tools to turn their lives around and address their addictions.
“The prisoners have to accept that they have a problem and they have to be willing to change. If they do neither it’s a waste of our time and money.”
The 24-week programme helps participants gain the skills and techniques that will help them remain drug free. Behavioural therapy, education on addiction and change, and recognition of the trigger points in their lives that could cause them to relapse are all part of the programme.
The Department contracts Care NZ to deliver the programme to six DTUs now established in New Zealand prisons.
“Care NZ and our staff have worked very hard with Rimutaka prisoners over the last year,” said Tony.
“Our aim is to rehabilitate these prisoners. Many coming here offend to fuel an addiction so if we succeed in rehabilitating them, hopefully they won’t re-offend when they’re released.”
Research has shown that prisoners who complete a Drug Treatment Unit course have re-offending rates 13 percentage points lower than prisoners who have not participated within two years of their release.
Service Development Manager Brendan Anstiss says, in line with the Government’s commitment to doubling the number of prisoners able to receive drug and alcohol treatment to 1,000 by 2011, Corrections is examining where additional DTUs should be located, and how they can offer different, but still effective services to other groups of prisoners such as short serving or remand prisoners.
Brendan says the Department is also working with other agencies such as Ministry of Health, and Police to improve offender’s access to mental health, alcohol and other drug services in prisons and the community.
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ISSN 1178-8453