Temporary removals to assist reintegration or rehabilitation
Reg. 29 and Guideline: The following guidelines are to be taken into account when considering applications for temporary removals for the broad purpose of assisting reintegration or rehabilitation:
Note: In the following guidelines travel need not be in the prison locality if the prisoner is willing and able to pay for the costs of their temporary removal, including the costs of staff supervising the prisoner.
Reg. 29 purpose:
- To seek employment (whether directly with a prospective employer or through an agency).
- Guideline: To be undertaken on confirmation of an appointment with the employer or agency and pursuant to a sentence management plan objective, or as recommended by the New Zealand Parole Board, provided travel is within the prison locality.
- To receive vocational or other training.
- Guideline: To be undertaken pursuant to a sentence management plan objective and provided travel is within the prison locality.
- To attend an agency for assessment or treatment of the prisoner’s rehabilitative or reintegrative needs.
- Guideline: To be undertaken pursuant to a sentence plan objective and provided travel is within the prison locality.
- If the prisoner’s release is imminent, to visit a department of State or other agency to make arrangements for the prisoner’s release.
- Guideline: To be undertaken on confirmation of an appointment with the department or agency and pursuant to a sentence management plan objective, provided travel is within the prison locality.
- To visit a community facility for educational, cultural, or recreational purposes.
- Guideline: To be undertaken pursuant to a sentence management plan objective or as recommended by the New Zealand Parole Board.
- To visit a person with whom the prisoner is in a close personal relationship, where the continuation of that relationship is in jeopardy.
- Guideline: To be undertaken provided travel is within the prison locality.
- To attend a religious service or a religious activity.
- Guideline: Travel should be within the prison locality and where the service or activity cannot practicably be carried out in the prison.
- To attend a restorative justice conference.
- To attend a family group conference.
- To have a tattoo removed (including any pre-procedure assessments and post-procedure checks).
- Guideline: Pursuant to a sentence management plan objective or as recommended by the New Zealand Parole Board.
- If the prisoner’s release is imminent, to obtain from family or friends personal property where this cannot be done by other means and the property is reasonably required before the prisoner’s release.
- Guideline: Travel should be within the prison locality.
- If the prisoner’s release is imminent, to purchase clothing which is reasonably required before the prisoner’s release.
- Guideline: Travel should be within the prison locality.
- To be involved in a community project, or other reintegrative activity, in association with staff or members of service clubs, religious or cultural groups, or other community organisations.
- Guideline: Should be pursuant to a sentence management plan objective or as recommended by the New Zealand Parole Board, provided travel is within the prison locality.
- To participate in an outdoor pursuit activity.
- Guideline:Should be pursuant to a sentence plan objective.
- To participate in a sports team, or play sport as a member of a club or team participating in a local competition, or attend a sporting event as a spectator.
- Guideline: Pursuant to a sentence plan objective.
Temporary removals for medical and other treatment / care purposes
Reg. 29(k) and (l) and Guideline: When deciding applications for temporary removals for medical and other treatment / care purposes under regulations 29(k) and (l) the following admissions and appointments are generally covered, however this list is not exhaustive:
- Appointments with general medical practitioners or medical specialists for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
- Appointments at hospitals or medical centres for outpatient treatment that is not available in the prison.
- Admissions to hospitals for treatment (under escort / guard).
- Admissions to hospices, geriatric, and palliative care institutions (under escort / guard).
- Appointments with dentists and dental technicians for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
- Appointments with physiotherapists, podiatrists or similar for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
- Appointments with psychiatrists or psychologists for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
- Appointments with eye specialists and opticians for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
- Other medical appointments approved by the prison’s medical officer.
Where Prison Managers wish to remove escorts / guards under bullet points 3 and 4 above, an application for temporary release for medical and other treatment / care purposes must be made and approved prior to the escorts / guards being removed.
Temporary removals on compassionate and childbirth grounds
Reg. 29: The following purposes relate to temporary removals on compassionate and childbirth grounds.
Note: No additional guidelines apply to these purposes.
- To visit a member of the prisoner’s family, or close friend who is:
- seriously ill; or
- incapacited; or
- to accompany and support a seriously ill member of the prisoner's family during medical treatment.
- To attend the funeral, tangi, or subsequent ceremonial commemoration of the death (for example, the unveiling of a headstone) of a family member or close friend.
- To enable the prisoner to give birth to a child, or attend the birth of the prisoner’s own child or visit the prisoner’s newborn child.
Section 62(2)(b): The Mother of a baby, where the baby has been placed with the mother under regulation 170 of the Corrections Regulations 2005, and where the baby subsequently becomes ill and requires attention off-site, may be considered for temporary removal in order to accompany the baby for medical or other treatment / care outside the prison.
