Purpose of the PFU
The Pacific Focus Unit (PFU) contributes to reducing re-offending by:
- using Pacific culture to motivate and rehabilitate prisoners within a therapeutic community in a custodial environment.
- providing prisoners with an opportunity to explore and strengthen their knowledge of Pacific culture in order to address their offending behaviours.
- working closely with local Pacific communities, programme providers and fanau to support prisoners to work toward a responsible and pro-social life in the community.
UNLESS specifically stated otherwise PFUs are subject to standard operating procedures.
The therapeutic environment
The rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes of the environment within the PFU are to:
- promote Pacific prisoners’ understanding and uptake of pro-social attitudes and behaviours;
- reinforce cultural identity and self-image, so that Pacific prisoners develop positive perceptions of themselves and of others;
- support the development of Pacific prisoners’ knowledge of their culture, social and cultural histories, to help them recognise and be motivated to change their criminal attitudes and behaviours;
- support the delivery of rehabilitation programmes that help Pacific prisoners reduce their criminal attitudes and behaviours (such as violence and substance abuse);
- provide reintegration programmes that address the prisoner’s needs that are targeted in the reintegration needs section of the prisoner’s sentence plan and
- provide a pro-social Pacific environment that promotes Pacific prisoners’ reconnection with their families and communities.
Funding
Additional funding is available to the PFU:
- Saili Matagi programme
- PFU Reintegrative Caseworker
- PFU welcoming ceremonies, catering, mealofa (koha), PFU Advisory Committee meeting fees, and cultural services
- Staff training
- Pacific customs and language courses for prisoners.
