E.15 Community Involvement and Relationships (National Policy)

Policy Standard

• The organisation enhances its involvement with the wider community through fostering positive relations to the mutual benefit of all parties.

Performance Standards

1. Where possible, staff are given prior notice of approved visiting community groups or individuals and their purpose.
2. Staff who are the first point of contact for the community are provided with information on likely community enquiries and the appropriate personnel to refer enquiries to.
3. Contact with community groups and individuals is conducted with courtesy and respect.
4. Community groups and individuals are subject to prison access procedures.
5. Communities significantly affected by policies and practices at the prison are identified and opportunities provided for those communities to give their views.
6. Each prison develops an induction process and information booklet for community groups and individuals to assist their understanding of the prison and its procedures.
7. The differing needs of community groups and individuals are met without compromising the prison's safety and security.
8. If appropriate, prison contact with community groups and individuals is observed according to cultural protocol without compromising the prison's safety and security.
9. Prison contact with whanau / hapu / iwi is facilitated according to Nga Tikanga Maori without compromising safety and security.
10. Prisoners' right to privacy is taken into consideration in respect of prison visits for community groups and individuals.
11. All staff assists in identifying potential prisoner community work or other projects and advises the project coordinator of any opportunities.
12. Prisoner community work or other projects are undertaken on a voluntary basis.
13. Prisoner community work or other projects undertaken do not take away paid work opportunities from the wider community.
14. Work projects undertaken take into account the religious, spiritual and cultural values of prisoners.
15. All community project sponsors are approved by the Prison Manager.
16. Each project is managed in a way that ensures that one person is responsible for the project, suitable prisoners are selected, the responsibilities of the prison and community sponsor are clear, documented and contracted, that a competent officer supervises the prisoners, and that the risks of personal damage, prisoner escape or inappropriate behaviour by prisoners is minimised.
17. Discussions are held with the appropriate local Community Probation Service Manager prior to commencing any community projects to ensure that duplication does not occur.
18. Each prison has a documented prisoners election criteria and rules for prisoner community work or other projects.
19. Prisoners selected for participation in prisoner community work or other projects off the prison property comply with the temporary release and escorted outings policy and procedures.