Last year marked an important landmark in the long history of volunteer involvement in prison services in New Zealand.

Our comprehensive review of volunteer policy underlined the Department’s commitment to strengthening the links with community volunteers and their organisations, as part of our goal of reducing reoffending.

After extensive consultation and careful deliberation, I am delighted that we are now able to launch a new volunteer policy and operating standards. This issue of CORRvolunteer is largely dedicated to introducing the new policy and mapping the way forward.

Since the last issue, we have also seen the inauguration of the new Prison Volunteering Advisory Group (PVAG). This too represents a major step forward and is symbolic of the strong partnerships the Department is building with key stakeholder groups.

Many of you participated in the consultations surrounding the volunteer policy review, either individually or through your volunteer organisations. Not only was this invaluable in helping us to chart the way forward, but reassuring too. Your collective interest and passion for providing better outcomes for prisoners underscores the important role prison volunteers will continue to play in the work of the Department.

Harry Hawthorn
General Manager: Prison Services

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