Official Agency offender complaints

Awareness

Complainants must be made aware by the CPS staff member of their right to seek assistance from Official Agencies for the purpose of addressing complaints.

This assistance can be sought at any time throughout the complaint process.

Complaint Investigation

Complainants can:

• seek assistance from Official Agencies (Inspector of Corrections and/or Ombudsman) for complaint resolution
• also contact other Official Agencies (e.g. the Human Rights Commission, the Health and Disability Commissioner, or the Privacy Commissioner) for complaint resolution.

Outside Agency Information

At induction or within fourteen days of first reporting, whichever is the sooner, all offenders are to be advised of the contact details of the Inspector of Corrections and Ombudsman.

Notices of contact details for the Inspector of Corrections are to be prominently displayed in Service Centres and Community Work Centres. (These will be made available to offices by Head Office Community Probation Service.)

Offenders must be given the opportunity to obtain support people where appropriate.

Complainants contact with outside agencies

Complainants who wish to make a complaint to the Inspector of Corrections can make direct contact by writing a letter or calling the 0800 number.

The address is:

The Senior Inspector
Department of Corrections
Private Box 1206
WELLINGTON
Phone: 0800 225 697

Complainants who wish to make a complaint to the Ombudsman can make direct contact by writing a letter or calling the 0800 number.

The address is:

The Ombudsman
PO Box 10 152
The Terrace
WELLINGTON
Phone: 0800 662 837

Outside agency recommend actions

Where an Outside Agency makes recommendations as a result of a complaint, these recommendations will be responded to in an appropriate manner.