About Us

The Department of Corrections manages sentences and orders imposed by the courts and the Parole Board, contributing to safer communities by protecting the public and reducing re-offending.

Corrections' vision is:
To focus on our primary outcome of safer communities by protecting the public and reducing re-offending through people-performance-quality and as a result have the New Zealand public's trust and confidence

Corrections' kaupapa is:
Kotahi ano te kaupapa: ko te oranga o te iwi (There is only one purpose (to our work): it is the wellness and well-being of the people).

Corrections works to reduce re-offending through:

• motivational programmes to motivate offenders to change their criminal behaviour
• opportunities for offenders to gain education and employment skills and experience through a number of prison-based internal services and employment skills.
• rehabilitation programmes to address the causes of an offender’s criminal behaviour
• reintegration initiatives to help offenders return to the community on release from prison.

However, Corrections recognises that there are many factors contributing to offending that are outside Corrections’ control and even the most sophisticated and intensive rehabilitation and reintegration programmes will not prevent a substantial portion of offenders from re-offending.

Corrections' work includes:

• Managing offenders sentenced to imprisonment across New Zealand, and those held on custodial remand
• Managing offenders on community-based sentences and orders
• Providing courts with detailed reports and information on offenders to assist judges in sentencing decisions, and provides administrative services to the New Zealand Parole Board, as well as information to help them decide whether offenders should be released, and under what conditions.

Corrections' role is limited to managing sentences and orders imposed by other justice-sector organisations; Corrections does not:

• arrest or sentence offenders 
• decide whether an offender is remanded in prison or on bail
• decide when a prisoner should be released
• set conditions for community-based sentences and orders
• manage young offenders under the age of 17
• collect fines.

The following table summarises roles of other core justice-sector organisations: