Reducing re-offending occurs when Māori offenders previously under the control or supervision of the Department go on to live an offence-free life.
We will see a reduction in the number and impact of overall offences by Māori and fewer Māori returning to the corrections system. We will also see a reduction in the number of victims of crime in society.
We are effective in reducing Māori re-offending when we help Māori offenders to recognise and address rehabilitation opportunities. In doing so, we are also likely to achieve sentence and order compliance by Māori offenders.
We will help Māori offenders by giving them skills to:
We will ensure day-to-day interactions with Māori offenders are used as opportunities to have a positive influence and build their abilities to stop offending. We will also provide these skills in structured ways through programmes and services.
The gains made by the Department in reducing re-offending by Māori will have a positive impact on reducing the intergenerational effects of Māori offending.
Improving outcomes for Māori within health, education and economic sectors will have similar impacts. It is essential that we work collaboratively with agencies, hapū, iwi and Māori community groups who work with Māori offenders.
“Māori do better when they do things as a group. We do great in sport. We do very well in health if we do it as a group. Maybe we need to ask what is the collective answer to improving the performance in reducing crime?” - Participants of symposium on safer communities: Māori and Crime Reduction – August 2007