3. Policy
3.1 Prisoner Population
- Youth Units detain:
- male prisoners only;
- all security classifications up to and including BB;
- accused and convicted prisoners, subject to the appropriate written authorities for general and same cell mixing;
- all youth prisoners except those who have been granted a specific exemption in writing by the GMPS, or those prisoners aged 14-16 years transferred to a Child Youth and Family Services Residence in accordance with section 142A of the CJAct;
- all 18-19 year-olds assessed as suitable for placement following the administration of the TBI.
- Priority Placement of Prisoners in Youth Units:
- prisoners aged 17 years and under from the same region (convicted and accused);
- prisoners aged 17 years and under from another region (convicted and accused);
- convicted 18-19 year old vulnerable young adults from the same region;
- accused 18-19 year old prisoners from the same region;
- 18 and 19 year olds vulnerable young adults from outside the region.
Note: Prisoners who are actively ‘at-risk’ will not be accommodated in Youth Units
3.2 Test of Best Interests for Men
- The purpose of the TBI is to determine whether placing an 18 or 19 year old in a youth unit would be contrary to the best interests of youth prisoners, aged 17 years and under, who are automatically placed in a youth unit by virtue of their age.
- The TBI must be administered after the B.14 NARA has been completed and be administered by trained staff within 72 hours of an 18 or 19 year old prisoner:
- being received into prison for the first time or with new charges or offences;
- being received at prison with evidence of a TBI being administered but no hardcopy can be physically sighted; or
- prior to a youth prisoner turning 18 years of age.
Note: To assist with a possible exit from the youth unit for a prisoner turning 18 years of age, the TBI should be administered between 10 and 14 days prior to the prisoner’s 18th birthday.
- A TBI outcome must be reviewed whenever one of the following occurs:
- a prisoner turn 19 years of age in a youth unit – review question 3.1.6;
- a remand prisoner is sentenced – review question 3.3.6;
- an 18 or 19 year old in a youth unit is involved in an incident – review section 1;
- the well being needs of an 18 or 19 year old in a youth unit change – review sections 2, 3, and 4; or
- an 18 or 19 year old prisoner not in a youth unit with no assessed risk to others on section one, has a suicide/self harm incident.
Note: There is no need to administer or review a TBI following an inter prison or Court transfer as the previous TBI remains active. The only exception is if an incident occurs during the transfer.
- If excluded from a youth unit placement based on section one – risk to others, then there is no need to continue with the TBI, unless the file review and/or B.14 Assessment indicate the prisoner might be highly vulnerable.
- If excluded from a youth unit placement based on section one - risk to others, then there is no need to re-administer a TBI as stated above, unless the prisoner is remand accused and has subsequently been found not guilty of that charge(s) or the charge(s) no longer applies.
- If excluded from a youth unit placement based on section three – vulnerability scale, because the prisoner has a PYVS score lower than 12, then the TBI must be re-administered as stated above.
Note: If the vulnerability score is 11 and the prisoner is not a risk to others, then an Assistant Regional Manager can override the vulnerability score and place the prisoner in a youth unit.
3.3 Unit Environment
- Youth Units place particular emphasis on creating a normalised environment. This shall include:
- Substantial, positive and meaningful interaction between staff and prisoners based on active management principles.
- Staff who role-model pro-social attitudes and behaviour.
- A full, purposeful and active day structured around rehabilitative programmes, education, employment and vocational training, and recreational activities.
- Creation of a positive peer culture by recognising individual achievement, openly discussing inappropriate behaviour and encouraging prisoners to work together as a team.
- Encouraging contact with family and whanau, where this is in the prisoner’s best interests.
- Encouraging community involvement, including the Maori community.
- Generally every effort will be made to ensure no contact with prisoners from other units or adult prisoners.
- On occasions where contact is unavoidable, such as medical visits outside of the youth unit, close supervision is required at all times.
- Regional Managers may approve written applications for closely supervised contact between a youth offender and an adult prisoner, where the adult prisoner can make a demonstrable contribution to the sentence plan of the youth.
3.4 Physical Facilities - Security
- Purpose built and contained within a high security perimeter fence.
- Security shall be consistent with other BB security facilities.
- May include AA classification cell-huts, as a relatively low proportion of the total muster. Cell huts should be supported by facilities which will motivate prisoners to achieve an AA security classification.
- Youth Units will have a main control room within the perimeter of the unit. Normally this would be sited at the main entry point. All controls will be slaved back to the prison’s main control room. Officer stations in the accommodation wings will have alarm panels for all cells in the unit but will not be permanently staffed.
- Shall include a small number of double cells, which are used when the unit manager believes that prisoners would benefit from sharing a cell.
- Shall include appropriate facilities for programmes, educational and recreational activities.
- Shall include prisoner employment facilities within the unit’s perimeter.
- Shall include a visits area appropriate for families with young children.
- Do not include ‘at risk’ facilities.
