Christchurch earthquake update

As a precautionary measure to reduce the risk and pressure on emergency services and local authorities in the Christchurch region, the Department of Corrections has moved prisoners from Christchurch Men’s and Women’s prisons to other prisons around the country.

“This is a temporary move to reduce the demand on local services, ease the pressure for contractors working at the prisons to restore infrastructure and ensure the safety of our staff and prisoners. Once we have assurance that the prisons are safe, we will return prisoners to them,” says Acting Manager Service Support Lance Alexander.

Although three Community Probation Service Centres suffered earthquake damage, offenders have been reporting to other centres and probation officers are continuing to visit offenders at home if possible.

Corrections staff expect that offenders serving community work sentences will soon be much in demand to help clean up, and are in close contact with local councils of affected areas to learn how we can help.

If you have been affected by the Christchurch earthquake and could use the help of a group of supervised offenders serving community work sentences, please call 0800 COM WRK (0800 266 975).

Need help with earthquake clean-up?

Community Probation Services have set up an 0800 number for people in Christchurch to call if they have a clean-up job for offenders serving community work sentences.

Anyone – whether community groups or individuals – can call the 0800 COM WRK phone number and make a job request.

The offenders will work in small groups, closely supervised by Community Probation Services staff.

0800 COM WRK (0800 266 975) is staffed between 8.30 and 5.00, Monday to Friday. Messages will be cleared over the weekends.