Container unit to open by March 2010

Corrections Minister Hon Judith Collins announced on August 27 that the country’s first prison unit made from modified shipping containers will open at Rimutaka Prison during March 2010.

From early 2010 onwards Corrections will need more prison beds to deal with a forecast increase in prisoners.

Ms Collins says the 60-bed unit will be cost effective and will quickly deliver much needed beds to the prison system.

The unit will provide plain but decent accommodation for prisoners and will be similar to cells built by more traditional methods.

Chief Executive Barry Matthews says the unit will give Corrections the opportunity to fully test the concept of using containers as accommodation, both from a building and operating perspective and across different security classifications.

“This testing will help inform decisions on construction of similar units at other sites across the country,” he says.

He says that while the new unit will help significantly, it will not remove the urgent need to implement increased double-bunking at our new facilities.

“Double-bunking at our four newest facilities will add approximately 900 beds to the prison system and will meet the immediate need for more prisoner accommodation.”