Corrections has released a consultation document proposing potential options for more transparent management of extreme threat prisoners.

The changes are targeted at prisoners who pose an extreme threat to prison or public safety. The proposals are intended to ensure that Corrections is responding to our changing operating environment as it has become clear to us in recent years that we are managing a small group of individuals who bring new challenges. This includes prisoners with extremist ideologies and prisoners who lead transnational organised criminal groups.

We are also prompted at this time to explore these options to respond to commentary from reviews, including from the Chief Ombudsman and the Office of the Inspectorate.

The discussion document groups possible amendments to the Corrections Act 2004 into three topic areas:

Topic one: Establish the ability for Corrections to identify and designate extreme threat prisoners, by

  • enabling clear, independent decision-making about which prisoners are designated as extreme threat prisoners, and ensure that independent review and assurance mechanisms are in place, and
  • creating a statutory framework around who constitutes an extreme threat prisoner to increase transparency.

Topic two: Improve Corrections’ management of extreme threat prisoners, by

  • establishing a security classification framework for extreme threat prisoners that accounts for enduring risk
  • tailoring the segregation framework for extreme threat prisoners that responds to enduring risk and the fact of long-term segregation
  • ensuring clarity about what constitutes ‘meaningful human contact’ to help custodial staff better identify how to mitigate against solitary confinement
  • considering additional support for extreme threat prisoners on long-term segregation to mitigate negative impacts, and
  • establishing management plans to give visibility and structure to prisoner progression.
  • Topic three: Consider the administration and operation of a restricted management unit, by
  • creating a statutory framework that permits the designation of a discrete site to support administration, and
  • enabling the destruction of prisoner property where it impacts public safety.

We are inviting feedback from the public on the problems we aim to address, the outcomes we seek, and possible options for achieving these outcomes.

Written submissions can be emailed to LegislationAmendments@corrections.govt.nz or posted to the Legislative Policy Team, Department of Corrections, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington before 31 March 2025. You can also use our optional submission form and return this to us via email.

Feedback received during public consultation will be considered as we develop policy options that will be provided to the Minister of Corrections and Cabinet for final decisions. Relevant documents will be published on our website following this process.

If you wish to discuss the consultation document with us, please email us with your availability.

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