10 November
Rimutaka Prison’s Drug Treatment Unit (DTU) has recently celebrated its first anniversary.
Forty-five prisoners have successfully completed the programme in the last year with another thirty-five currently in various stages of the programme.
Rimutaka Prison Manager Tony Howe considers the DTU a vital part of the prison’s rehabilitation efforts.
“When you consider that 60 per cent of offenders are affected by alcohol or drugs at the time of their offending, it is important we get as many suitable prisoners into this programme as possible,” says Mr Howe.
“Providing such an intensive programme gives motivated prisoners the tools to turn their lives around, by allowing them to address long standing addictions.”
The Drug Treatment Unit programme runs for 24 weeks and includes behavioural therapy and education on addiction and change.
Prisoners who participate in the DTU programme have been identified as having an addiction which has been a factor in their crimes.
Only prisoners who are motivated to make a change in their lives may enter the programme. It is a waste of taxpayers' money placing someone on this programme who is not motivated to change.
Prisoners must enter the programme acknowledging that they have an addiction and accepting there is a need to do something about it.
To ensure that prisoners are sticking to their commitment they must also submit to random drug tests.
“Rimutaka prisoners have really taken to the DTU programme and we’ve had record numbers graduate successfully. Eleven of the first fourteen prisoners through here completed the programme. In our second intake thirteen of fifteen finished successfully,” says Mr Howe.
“We’re not out to make records though – our aim is to rehabilitate these prisoners. This is a rigorous course - no one gets a free ride through here. If staff aren’t confident a prisoner has completed part of the course satisfactorily they won’t graduate until they are up to scratch.
“These prisoners gain skills and techniques that will aid them in remaining drug free and in recognising trigger points in their lives that could cause them to relapse."
The Department contracts Care NZ to deliver the DTU programmes. Care NZ staff treat prisoners through cognitive behavioural therapy in both one-on-one and group situations.
Rimutaka’s DTU is one of six around the country.
ENDS
For further information contact the Communications Services Desk: