There’s no question that high numbers of gang members and gang affiliates pass through Corrections’ drug, violence and high risk behaviour Special Treatment Units (STUs).
When selecting participants, the psychological staff carefully consider a person’s gang affiliation and the implications this has for behaviour in the unit.
“We know that gang affiliations increase the risk of a prisoner re-offending so we’re very focused on encouraging the men to walk away from their gang lifestyles and we make no apologies for that,” says Special Treatment Units National Manager Steve Berry.
“Thankfully we do have some success. Some prisoners eventually see that life is easier and better if they remove themselves from the gang.”
However, doing so is a very difficult process for fully fledged members and affiliates alike. For some it means walking away from everything they know, including family and friends, and that takes courage.
To help them, STUs offer follow-up support which Principal Psychologist Paul Whitehead has a strong interest in. Paul was responsible for setting up an informal follow-up programme for high risk offenders released from Waikeria Prison’s Karaka STU in Te Awamutu.
Within a week of a prisoner’s release the unit holds a whānau hui, with the released man’s key family, probation and cultural support.
When spoken to in mid-July following five whānau hui Paul felt confident that they were a good first step to helping released men and their family understand the risks the men faced in terms of re-offending and their obligations to the conditions imposed.
Because the majority of men referred to STUs have gang connections the stakes are high. For example, to leave a gang usually requires permission. This in itself is a high risk situation for the men taking this step.
Paul’s scheme provides a weekly phone call to the prisoner plus further, smaller hui for six months following their release. Every agency involved in the six-month programme shares information.
Puna Tatari Special Treatment Unit at Spring Hill Corrections Facility is likely to follow this approach.
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ISSN 1178-8453