Prisoners graduate from WelTec courses
Twenty-three prisoners have graduated from the first ever prison-based WelTec courses run at Rimutaka Prison. The 20-week courses in painting and maintaining small motors provided prisoners with credits that will count towards National Certificates in Painting level three and Motor Industry level two. Ten prisoners graduated from the painting course and 13 from the small maintenance motor maintenance course. Further courses are scheduled for the next three years.
Offenders help town in storm clean up
Fifteen Nelson offenders serving community work sentences helped the Nelson City Council clean-up the suburb of Stoke after hurricane force winds struck last winter.
Corrections hosts Swedish delegation
A Swedish delegation of 20 MPs and their Australian-based Ambassador visited the Department in January. The MPs, who formed the Swedish Parliament’s Committee on Justice, were researching Youth Crime and Organised Crime in Australia and New Zealand. The delegation was hosted by Chief Executive Barry Matthews at Head Office where a range of speakers presented to them. Following this, they visited the Māori Focus Unit and Violence Prevention Unit at Rimutaka Prison.
Improved access to birth certificates for prisoners approaching release
Corrections and Ministry of Social Development (MSD) staff have found a practical way to speed up prisoners’ access to bank accounts and benefits upon their release. An amendment to the Special Needs Grant Welfare Programme now enables eligible prisoners to apply to prison-based Work & Income staff for their birth certificate. Without identification released prisoners can’t apply for benefits or open bank accounts – a situation that can quickly lead them back to offending. Corrections and MSD are collaborating on a number of initiatives to support prisoners reintegrating into their community.
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ISSN 1178-8453