Rolleston Prison accommodates 320 sentenced prisoners with security classifications ranging from minimum to low-medium.
Rolleston Prison originally opened in 1958 in the former Army Detention Centre and between 1973 and 1986 it operated as a detention centre. In 1986 the new Rolleston Prison opened, incorporating the new Corrective Training Centre buildings called the Tawa unit. The prison was extensively renovated in 1987 to increase capacity and in 1989 the Kia Marama unit opened. In 1992 the 60 bed Kowhai unit opened and an additional two units have been completed since then.
Rolleston Prison is located south of Christchurch and employs 94 staff. It is part of Prison Services' Southern Region.
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Further information
Security
Reducing re-offending
Motivational programmes
Cognitive-behavioural programmes
Kia Marama Unit
Prisoner employment
Education
Reintegration
Working with the community
Security
Protecting the public is the Department's highest priority and this is accomplished through the secure incarceration of prisoners.
The level of physical security at each prison varies and is dependant on the type of prisoner accommodated.
Because Rolleston Prison is a low security prison and accommodates prisoners assessed as being of minimal risk to the public, the level of physical security is lower than would be found at some other prisons.
Rolleston Prison does not have a perimeter fence. Instead, individual units have their own secure fencing and the prison has electronic security devices around the perimeter.
In addition, cameras, closed circuit TV, video motion detectors and microwave sensors are used at the prison.
Reducing re-offending
Reducing re-offending is critical if the Department is to meet its overriding objective of improving public safety.
Reducing re-offending means fewer offenders commit crime after completing their sentence - resulting in fewer victims, a reduction in the cost of crime and safer communities.
Rolleston Prison provides prisoners with a range of programmes and interventions that are designed to address the primary causes of their offending and prepare them for release.
The most intensive interventions are targeted at prisoners who are assessed as being a high risk of re-offending, that have severe needs that caused their offending and are motivated to make positive constructive changes in their lives.
Every prisoner entering Rolleston Prison receives a sentence plan which they are required to comply with. The focus of the sentence plan is on reducing the risk of them re-offending on release and is developed following an assessment of a prisoner's risk, needs and motivation to ensure they are placed on the most appropriate and timely programmes and interventions to address the underlying causes of their offending.
Rehabilitation programmes and interventions provided at Rolleston Prison fall into four main categories: motivational, cognitive-behavioural, employment and education, and reintegrative.
Motivational programmes
Motivational programmes are designed to increase motivation and to encourage and prepare prisoners to confront the causes of their offending.
There are two primary motivational programmes used at Rolleston Prison: the Tikanga Maori Programme and the Short Motivational Programme.
Tikanga Maori programmes use Maori philosophy, values, knowledge and practice to help prisoners increase their understanding of their Maori identity and their values, and improve their self-esteem so they become motivated to address the causes of their offending.
The Short Motivational Programme aims to increase motivation by increasing a prisoner's problem awareness and recognition, reduce ambivalence, address cognitive distortions, and help them consider options and formulate goals.
Cognitive-behavioural programmes
Cognitive-behavioural programmes aim to reduce re-offending by helping prisoners address the causes of their offending and teach them to identify, analyse and solve problems and make decisions to better their lives.
Prisoners also learn how to understand the consequences of their actions and gain control over their own behaviour.
Rolleston Prison provides two general cognitive-behavioural programmes for prisoners: the Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme and the Short Rehabilitation Programme.
The Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme is designed for prisoners in the middle risk range – that is those not high risk but still enough of a risk to warrant rehabilitation.
The programme increases problem awareness and recognition, reduces ambivalence, addresses cognitive distortions, and teaches prisoners to consider options and formulate goals.
The Short Rehabilitation Programme is a brief rehabilitation programme aimed at a smaller number of prisoners who require rehabilitation but do not have enough time in their sentence to complete a longer programme.
The programme is similar to the Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme, but is shorter and more intense.
Both the Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme and Short Rehabilitation Programme target a range of prisoners and are designed to cover the common elements of all offending.
Kia Marama Unit
Rolleston Prison has the 60-bed Kia Marama Sex Offender Treatment Unit, one of two such units in the country.
Kia Marama delivers a group-based treatment within a therapeutic environment.
The programme helps prisoners look at the patterns of their offending and identifies high risk situations.
Evaluations have shown that the programme is very effective in reducing re-offending.
Prisoner employment
Prisoner employment, managed by Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE), plays an integral part in the rehabilitation of prisoners as it provides prisoners with essential work skills and habits.
The last prison census in 2003 found that over half of all prisoners were not in paid employment prior to sentencing.
Prisoner employment increases the chance a prisoner will find sustainable work on release, research shows this will result in a decreased number of prisoners being reconvicted.
Rolleston Prison offers prisoners employment in a number of different areas:
Prisoners are able to earn credits under the National Qualification Framework, allowing them to work towards qualifications whilst they are engaged in employment and training.
Minimum security prisoners nearing release may also be eligible to participate in Release to Work.
Release to Work is a form of temporary release that allows prisoners to be in paid work in the community during the day.
It provides prisoners with a stable work record and the job is often carried on after a prisoner's release from prison.
Education
There is a strong relationship between a lack of education and criminal behaviour.
At the time of the last prison census in 2003, 51.7 per cent of all prisoners had no formal qualifications.
Educational achievement and participation can equip prisoners for self-sufficiency and reduce the barriers to living an offence-free life.
A prisoner can enrol in any subject or education programme they consider themselves capable of achieving.
There are five types of education offered to prisoners at Rolleston Prison:
In addition, computer and hobby classes are also available.
Reintegration
Reintegration programmes reduce re-offending by addressing problems likely to increase a prisoners' risk of re-offending on release.
Being imprisoned can have significant social consequences for a prisoner.
They are likely to have lost their job and accommodation, they are unlikely to be able to support their families and their relationships can be adversely affected in other ways.
Combined, this can lead offenders into a cycle of institutionalisation.
Rolleston Prison provides two reintegrative programmes, based at Christchurch Men's Prison:
Reintegration case-workers, based at Christchurch Men's Prison also work with high-need prisoners at Rolleston Prison to address their specific reintegrative needs and help them prepare for release in the community.
The Ministry of Social Development have Work and Income work brokers and case managers, based at Christchurch Men's prison, who assist prisoners at Rolleston Prison nearing release to find suitable work before they are released.
Prisoners who find sustainable employment on release are less likely to re-offend.
Working with the community
The community has an important role to play in the rehabilitation and transition of prisoners back into the community by supporting and encouraging prisoners to live an offence free life.
Many sectors of the community are involved in rehabilitating offenders and helping them move back into the community.
Rolleston Prison also works with a number of support agencies, including New Zealand Prisoner's Aid and Rehabilitation Society (NZPARS), Prison Fellowship and the Salvation Army to support the successful reintegration of prisoners back into the community.
A large number of people also regularly donate their time, energy and expertise as volunteers with Rolleston Prison.
Volunteers provide invaluable support for prisoners and their families and give prisoners the opportunity to spend their free time constructively through music, art and sport.