Prisoners in Spring Hill Corrections Facility’s Special Treatment Unit received a special visit today from the Super Maori Fullas and the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club as part of New Zealand’s biggest campaign to stop violence towards women and children.

The visit was organised as part of White Ribbon Day – the international day when people, particularly men, wear a white ribbon to show they will not tolerate or condone violence towards women. Spring Hill Corrections Facility was the last stop for the two clubs who have led a White Ribbon Motorcycle ride around the North Island to raise awareness of the campaign. They asked prisoners from the Special Treatment Unit to voluntarily receive a white ribbon and share their motivation for accepting it.

“Spring Hill’s Special Treatment Unit currently provides treatment for 37 offenders who have been convicted of violent offences. Of these 37, more than 30 prisoners accepted a white ribbon from the visitors,” Prison Manager Gavin Dalziel said.

“Their reasons for doing so were varied, but they were all honest and upfront about their offending and what was driving them to change their behaviour. There are constant reminders in prison of how serious a problem male violence against women is in New  Zealand. This has been a great opportunity for prisoners with a history of violence to acknowledge and challenge their own and each other’s attitudes and behaviours that are abusive.”

The Department of Corrections’ Chief Executive Barry Matthews is a White Ribbon Day Ambassador and the Department has joined with other New Zealanders in raising awareness about family violence. Corrections staff were encouraged to show their support for the campaign by wearing a white ribbon.

Prisoners too have become involved well before the actual event by providing a vital service to support the White Ribbon Day campaign, with Rimutaka Prison and Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility hand-making more than 500,000 ribbons for distribution.

ENDS

For further information contact the Communications Services Desk by phone (04) 460 3365 or email: commdesk@corrections.govt.nz

Notes to journalist:
The Special Treatment Unit programme aims to reduce re-offending by:
• Motivating prisoners to want to change.
 
• Reducing the recidivism risk of men who have committed serious crimes using intensive group treatment that targets risk factors associated with re-offending.
 
• Increasing the safety of the public by providing prisoners with lifelong skills that will assist them to manage their risk factors.

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