A.02 Family/Whanau Relationship Maintenance & Enhancement (National Policy)

Policy Standard

• If it does not pose a threat to the safety of the community, or any member of the public, every prisoner must be encouraged and assisted to maintain or establish relationships with their family/whānau in a culturally appropriate manner to assist their well being and promote the prisoner’s effective reintegration into society.

Performance Standards

1. When developing a prisoner’s management plan family/whānau are identified in discussion with the prisoner.
2. Prisoners are assisted to assess their needs in terms of maintaining and enhancing family/whānau relationships.
3. A prisoner’s family/whānau must, as far as is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances and within the resources available, be recognised and involved in decisions relating to sentence planning and management.
4. Family/whānau visits are encouraged and supported.
5. Culturally appropriate family/whānau visiting areas are provided which reflect the needs of visitors including, access for differently-abled persons, access to toilets, storage for visitor’s belongings, adequate seating, a play area for child/parent interaction and a suitable area to feed and change babies/toddlers
6. Additional family/whānau visits are provided in special circumstances where negotiated between the family/whānau member and the Prisoner Manager or their representative.
7. Rooms where visitors may be observed but not heard are provided where appropriate.
8. Access to a telephone is available to maintain family/whānau relationships through the prisoners’ telephone system.
9. As far as practicable and with consideration to a prisoner’s security rating, prisoners are placed in institutions nearest to their families/whānau support.
10. Communication via incoming phone calls from family/whānau to prisoners is relayed promptly and sensitively.
11. Encouragement and support is given to prisoner participation in family group conferences run by Child, Youth and Family Services.
12. Recognition and support for the cultural differences of all prisoners and their families in respect of food, language and observed celebrations is provided without compromising safety and security.
13. On the recommendation of the case officer, temporary releases and escorted outings to assist with the maintenance and enhancement of family/whanau relationships are considered.
14. Where practicable, and with the agreement of the prisoner, programme provider and case officer, family/whānau participate in programmes and services.
15. Where supported by Prison Managers, special visits are arranged between prisoners in different prisons who are members of the same family/whānau.
16. Family days are provided to enhance family/whānau relationships.
17. As far as is reasonable and practicable, and with consideration to a prisoner’s security rating, the importance of a prisoner maintaining his or her family/whānau relationship is considered before a transfer to another prison away from the family/whānau is arranged.
18. As far as practicable and in so far as the security and order of the prison is maintained, prisoners due to be transferred are given reasonable opportunity to inform a family/whānau member before transfer.
19. Where reasonable and practicable a visit may be arranged before the transfer takes place.

Whānau / Family Day

• All Whānau / Family Days are held at the discretion of the Prison Manager.
• All staff will monitor security and safety aspects of the Whānau / Family Day.

Approvals

• An Operation Order will be prepared by the appropriate Unit Manager for each and every Whānau / Family Day and sent to the Prison Manager for approval one month prior to the event date.
• A Whānau / Family Day will not proceed without the Prison Managers approval.

Visitors

• All Visitors over 16 years of age must be on the prisoners approved visitor list.

Food Items

• All food items for the Whānau / Family Day will be supplied by the Prison kitchen.
• The food supplied will be funded by the Prisoner(s) Trust Account(s).

Visitor Arrival

• Visitors may start arriving 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the Whānau / Family Day.
• Visitors who arrive after the scheduled start time will be admitted on an individual basis as approved by the Prison Manager/Delegate.

End of Whānau / Family Day

• Prisoners will be mustered using a face to name muster board prior to visitors departing the prison.
• Visitors will be asked to leave at the time scheduled for the Whānau / Family day to finish.

Excluded

• Prisoners “Off Privileges”
• Prisoners on “Cell Confinement”
• Prisoners registered as “Identified Drug Users”
• Prisoners on “Booth Visits”
• At Risk prisoners