23 July

Twelve prisoners have graduated from the Drug Treatment Unit (DTU) programme at Otago Corrections Facility (OCF) on Friday 23 July, taking a big step towards turning their lives around.

They are the second group to undertake the new 12-week short-course treatment programme, which is only available at OCF, offering a condensed treatment programme for prisoners serving shorter sentences.

Prison Manager Jack Harrison believes the DTU is a vital part of the prison’s rehabilitation efforts. Prisoners who participate in the DTU programme have been identified as having an addiction which has been a factor in their crimes

“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,” says Mr Harrison.

“For me, offending and drinking worked hand-in-hand. I’ve learned a lot of positive things here that’ll help me stay clean when I get out, and I would recommend it to any prisoner who is willing to help themselves,” a graduating prisoner says.

He and the 11 other graduates have spent the last three months looking at how substance abuse has impacted on their offending and learning skills that will help them live a life without substance abuse.

“The programme is rigorous – the prisoners would gain nothing if they were given a free ride. They have had to successfully complete all the stages of the programme to the satisfaction of clinical staff, which requires commitment and motivation. They have been required to continually challenge themselves with regard to their attitudes, values and beliefs that led to their substance abuse,” Mr Harrison says.

“The DTU is a vital part of our prison’s rehabilitation efforts and I am pleased we are able to offer prisoners serving shorter sentences an intensive programme to help reduce their re-offending.”

Notes to reporter:

• It is expected that the OCF DTU programme will be run three times a year with an estimated 180 prisoners per year starting the course.
• The condensed treatment programme provides the same treatment hours as the standard six-month programme, but over a shorter timeframe. Prisoners on a short-course DTU programme need to complete a minimum of 15 hours per week over 12 weeks compared to the seven and a half (7.5) hours a week the six month programme requires at other prisons.
• Two more DTUs offering the short-course programme will be opened at Auckland and Whanganui Prisons by the end of 2011.
• Care NZ are the contracted provider for clinical treatment of prisoners at OCF DTU.

For further information contact the Communications Services Desk:

• Phone: (04) 460 3365
• Email: commdesk@corrections.govt.nz

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