We are effective in reducing re-offending when we help Pacific offenders to recognise and address their offending and to take advantage of rehabilitation opportunities. In doing so, we are also likely to achieve sentence and order compliance. We will help offenders, including Pacific offenders by giving them skills to:
Progress to date
In comparison to Māori and European offenders, Pacific offender reconviction and re-imprisonment rates are low.
The Department recently established its first Pacific Focus Unit at the Springhill Corrections Facility. This Unit operates according to Pacific cultural values and beliefs and is supported by a Pacific Advisory Group comprising of community members. Saili Matagi, the Department’s Pacific violence prevention programme and the Pacific Legends initiative are also delivered at the Pacific Focus Unit.
Fautua Pasefika (Pacific community volunteers) provide support to Pacific prisoners. This can include general visiting, spiritual guidance, support for prisoners and their families during court appearances and to make contact with the families of offenders both in New Zealand and the Islands to assist in reintegrating the offender back into the community on their release.
In addition to Fautua Pasefika, at regional levels the presence of community groups, church services and cultural constructive activities are encouraged and supported.
Looking forward
Currently, the Pacific re-offending rate is lower than other groups and this is good news. However, a projected increase in Pacific youth demographics may change this. We will monitor this trend as we progress over the next five years.
We will continue to offer motivated Pacific offenders rehabilitation opportunities to address the key issues related to their offending. We will continue to evaluate all our rehabilitation efforts, particularly the Pacific Focus Unit and Saili Matagi, to ensure they contribute to improve outcomes for Pacific offenders.
We will provide Pacific prisoners with quality health services and will raise their literacy and numeracy skills to enable them to meaningfully participate in rehabilitation and in wider society.
We will provide Pacific prisoners with increased employment opportunities and training that will help them gain skilled employment on release from prison.
What progress will look like
In particular we expect to see improvements in the following areas: