Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provides invaluable support to prisoners across New Zealand. AA Support Worker, Daniel Corry, describes a typical Monday evening visit to Rolleston Prison.

We have five meetings at Rolleston Prison on a Monday evening. I check my pockets are clean, no cell phone etc, we brief the gate staff about the purpose of our visit, how long we will be there for and sign in. We are designated a wing and taken to the room set aside for our meeting and wait for the prisoners to join us.

I usually pray for the meeting that night, for the people that attend and that we will get out of it what we are meant to.

Years ago, we used to take biscuits, smokes etc. Once that stopped, we found that those prisoners who attend are the ones who really want to.

Drug and alcohol addiction affect many people and being able to talk about our addictions and face them on a day-to-day basis gives hope.

We aim to change mindsets and plant affirmations (“I am a good person, I will cope when I finish my time”). Another priority is encouraging prisoners to get support on the outside, so that they may choose to attend a meeting instead of going to the pub. How many people are released from prison on Friday, go meet their mates at the pub and then are back in trouble by Monday? The cycle continues until you achieve ACCEPTANCE - I cannot drink, I cannot take drugs, I will have to make changes, I must get myself support, I want a good life sober, and I want to be there for my family.

If they make the right choices, get the support, work the programme, chances are they will achieve victory - a clean and sober life.

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The Department actively engages with individuals and volunteer organisations to develop relationships, address concerns and remove barriers to encourage the involvement of more volunteers in prisons. As a result, the number of registered volunteers has grown from approximately 1,500 to 2,900 volunteers. The Department is continuing to proactively seek opportunities to increase this growth.

Extract from Department of Corrections Annual Report 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2006

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