Reducing re-offending - How you can get involved

The Department of Corrections is committed to reduce re-offending.

As an employer, you can help us achieve our goal in a number of ways, including offering positions to job seekers, on-the-job training, mentoring, and participating in Release to Work.

Provide job seekers with jobs

Research shows that people who go to work in a regular job after they’ve been to prison or served a community sentence are less likely to re-offend.

We provide wide-ranging training and education opportunities for people in prison and in the community, help them get qualifications, build knowledge, skills, and other attributes they can use to find sustainable employment.

We will work with you to get the right person with the right skills for your business. We can provide tailored training solutions as well as ongoing, in-work support after employment.

Release to Work

Our Release to Work (RtW) programme places suitable people in our care into paid employment in the community, with a view to gaining (or continuing) employment on release. This gives employers access to a pool of skilled, reliable workers and the ability to employ someone on a fixed term basis.

The RtW programme provides an opportunity to maintain, develop or re-establish work skills and habits, as well as provide them contact with the general public. Like your average employee living in the community, suitable prisoners are encouraged to be responsible for their own travel to and from prison.

There may be services in your area to provide job matching and in-work support.

Become a volunteer, sponsor or mentor

Pass on your skills by volunteering in prison, or supporting community initiatives such as community work parties, who can help you to complete initiatives while building their skills and work experience.

Often when a family member is in prison, their families face financial and emotional hardship. Show your support for prisoners and their families through your business, provide financial aid, or commit ongoing support for those organisations that already provide this assistance.

Contact us

If you are interested in working with us to reduce re-offending contact your Corrections Regional Office.

Northern Regional Office
PO Box 11612, Ellerslie, Auckland 1542
Central Corporate Park Centre
666 Great South Road, Auckland, 1061

Phone: 09 306 8350

Central Regional Office
PO Box 9343, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton, 3240
Monckton Trust Building, Level 1
73 Rostrevor Street, Hamilton, 3240

Phone: 07 839 7560

Lower North Regional Office
Private Bag 1206, Wellington, 6140
Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace
Wellington, 6011

Phone: 04 460 3000

Southern Regional Office
Private Bag 327, Christchurch
72 St Asaph Street
Christchurch

Phone: 03 363 4400