M.04.06.Res.01 Approved purposes for temporary release

Temporary release to assist reintegration or rehabilitation

1. Unless otherwise specified, releases must be undertaken between 8.00am and 9.00pm on the same day and with sponsorship verifications dealt with by prison or probation staff at the discretion of the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate).
   Guideline: Times may be varied at the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate) discretion where the release commences before 8.00am or is not necessarily concluded by 9.00pm.
   Guideline: A prisoner may be on temporary release for up to three separate periods on separate days between the hours of 8.00am and 9.00pm, unless the prisoner is a participant in the Whare Oranga Ake programme, where the duration, and the number of separate periods for temporary release will be agreed between Whare Oranga Ake provider and the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate).
2. Temporary release may involve the collection or purchase of clothing, arrangement of accommodation, or any other such issue with an agency necessary for imminent release back into the community.
   Guideline: Times may be varied at the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate) discretion where the project / activity commences before 8.00am or is not necessarily concluded by 9.00pm.
3. Temporary release may be for the following reasons:
   1. to enable a prisoner to play as a member of an established community sports team in a local competition
   2. for a prisoner to participate in an outdoor pursuit activity
   3. to attend a restorative justice conference
   4. to attend a family group conference.

Note: For paragraph 3 above the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate) is to determine if a sponsor is required.

Temporary release for a programme

1. Temporary release may be granted to attend any agency for assessment or treatment of the prisoner’s rehabilitative or re-integrative needs.
   Guideline: Temporary release may be granted for up to a maximum of 16 weeks with an approved sponsor for a prisoner to be assessed for and / or attend a drug and alcohol programme, or social skills programme run by an established community group or organisation, at a treatment centre approved by the national services manager / manager service support after consultation with the director psychological service or other appropriate person(s).
   (See POM M.04.06.Res.06 Approved purpose for treatment centres)

Temporary release home leave

1. Prisoners may apply for temporary release to visit the prisoner’s family.
   Guideline: Home leave to visit the prisoner’s family for residential reintegration may be granted, with a Community Probation (CP)-recommended sponsor, for a maximum of three consecutive days (72 hours plus travelling time at thecustodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate) discretion), unless the prisoner is a participant in the Whare Oranga Ake programme, where the maximum number of days for home leave will be agreed between the Whare sponsor and the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate).
2. The frequency of temporary releases must be managed as part of the prisoner's offender plan and re-integration needs.
3. Custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate) may also take into consideration any Corrections Psychologist / NZPB recommendation(s).
4. CP should determine whether a sponsor is required. The custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate) manager should approve any sponsor required, approve the length of the temporary release and approve any additional travelling time.
5. Prisoners picking up pre-booked air flight tickets for a home leave or compassionate leave journey must have a letter of introduction on official Department letterhead from the originating prison, which contains and must be limited to:
   1. Prisoners full name
   2. the proposed travel destination, and
   3. a current photograph.

Note: The temporary release documentation normally provided to prisoners in these cases cannot be used to facilitate this identification requirement as they disclose too much personal information concerning the prisoner.

Temporary release for employment, education and re-integrative purposes in the community

1. Prisoners may apply for temporary release:
   1. to undertake paid employment (including self employment).
      Refer to POM M.04.07 Release to work.
   2. to seek employment (whether directly with a prospective employer or through an agency) or to receive vocational or other training
   3. to visit a community facility for educational, cultural or recreational purposes.
2. The temporary release may enable involement in a community project or other re-integrative activity (in association with staff and / or members of service club, cultural, or religious groups, or other community organisation).
3. The temporary release may be:
   1. on a daily basis to attend an educational or training course(s)
   2. on a daily basis to seek employment, for a maximum of five days (120 hours) at a time where residence away from the prison is involved, for educational purposes
   3. for periods of time agreed by the Whare Oranga Ake provider and the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate) or authorised delegate to attend employment, education and re-integrative related programmes in the community
4. The custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate) is to determine if a sponsor is required.

Temporary release for medical and other treatment / care purposes

1. The following admissions and appointments are generally covered; however this list is not exhaustive:
   1. Appointments with general medical practitioners or medical specialists for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
   2. Appointments at hospitals or medical centres for outpatient treatment that is not available in the prison.
   3. Admissions to hospitals for treatment.
   4. Admissions to hospices, geriatric and palliative care institutions.
   5. Appointments with dentists and dental technicians for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
   6. Appointments with physiotherapists, podiatrists or similar for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
   7. Appointments with psychiatrists or psychologists for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
   8. Appointments with eye specialists and opticians for assessment or treatment that is not available in the prison.
   9. Other medical appointments approved by the prison’s medical officer.

Temporary release on compassionate and childbirth grounds

1. Temporary release on compassionate grounds or childbirth grounds may be granted for the following reasons:
   1. to visit a member of the prisoner’s family, or close friend who is seriously ill or incapacitated
   2. to accompany and support a seriously ill member of the prisoner's family during medical treatment.
      Note: If a prisoner who is seriously ill and unlikely to recover has made an application for temporary release for the remainder of his or her sentence, the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate), at his / her discretion is to ask prison or probation staff to provide a report on the suitability of the proposed sponsor and residence
   3. 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
   4. to meet the needs of the prisoner’s family if the prisoner is seriously ill and unlikely to recover
   5. 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.
      Note: If a female prisoner has made an application for temporary release to either give birth to the child, or to visit the her newborn child, the custodial systems manager (or other authorised delegate), at his / her discretion, is to ask prison or probation staff to provide a report on the suitability of the proposed sponsor as well as the proposed address where the prisoner intends to reside during her temporary release.

Temporary release to Police (Police request)

1. Prisoners may be temporarily released to assist the Police in relation to the prevention, investigation, and detection of offences. (A prisoner must consent to being released for this purpose).
2. Prisoners may be temporarily released to enable the police to exercise powers under section 32 or 33 of Policing Act 2008 in connection with the laying of charges.
3. Such temporary releases are only to be approved on the written request from Police National Headquarters (Operations).