It is difficult to believe that three years have passed since I became the Minister of Corrections, but what an amazing three years it has been.

With Christmas just around the corner, it seems like a good time to stop and reflect on what has been achieved.

Corrections has transformed itself over the last three years. There have been unprecedented improvements in almost every performance indicator. Escapes and drug use in prisons are at all-time lows while CPS’ compliance with its mandatory standards are at an all time high.

A new approach to rehabilitation has been implemented that sees specialised case managers working one-on-one with prisoners throughout their sentence to reduce their risk of re-offending.

The safety of our prisons has been improved through the successful implementation of a smoking ban and we have invested in new safety equipment for our frontline corrections officers to better protect them when they are working in high risk situations.

But the last three years have also been marked with tragedy.

I can tell you that the worst news that you can receive as Minister is to learn that a staff member has been seriously injured or killed. The tragic death of Jason Palmer last year reminds us just how dangerous it can be working on the frontline with offenders.

The thing that I have most enjoyed in the last three years has been getting out of the Beehive and into our prisons and probation centres to see our frontline men and women getting on with the job.

Every day these staff deal with the most dangerous and threatening individuals in our society, yet they never lose faith that they can make a difference in an offender’s life.

The work that has been done over the last three years will ensure that staff have the tools and resources available to them to make even further improvements in the management of offenders.

Thank you to the Corrections staff who have taken the time to stop and talk to me about their job, for showing me around their sites and explaining both the joys and the challenges of their role.

But most of all, on behalf of New Zealand, thank you to all the staff whose concerted effort and contribution have made the department better, stronger and more effective over the last three years.

Judith Collins
Minister of Corrections
 

---

Got a story for Corrections News or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.

ISSN 1178-8453

Previous Next Show Contents