8.1 Inmate Programmes

As part of the Department’s objective of reducing re-offending, a range of programmes is made available to inmates, designed to modify antisocial attitudes and behaviour, and to prepare inmates for reintegration to the community. Inmates typically participate in these programmes towards the end of the inmate’s sentence

In addition to the core programmes, structured activities are available including employment training in specific prison industries, unit-based employment, education and organised recreation.

Further, inmates may reside in special focus units, where the residents’ daily activities are structured around the achievement of specific rehabilitative objectives. The table below lists the special focus units and their occupancy on census day.

Table 8-1 Sentenced inmates resident in special focus units.

Special focus unit	Female		Male		Total
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Alcohol and drug treatment units	17	6.5%	104	2.1%	121	2.4%
Sex offender treatment units	0	0.0%	121	2.5%	121	2.4%
Violence treatment unit	0	0.0%	28	0.6%	28	0.5%
Māori focus units	0	0.0%	273	5.6%	273	5.4%
Faith-based unit	0	0.0%	59	1.2%	59	1.2%
Youth units	0	0.0%	115	2.4%	115	2.3%
Self-care units	29	11.1%	55	1.1%	84	1.6%
Standard units	216	82.4%	4128	84.5%	4294	84.3%
Total sentenced inmates	262	100.0%	4883	100.0%	5095	100.0%

Percentages may not add to 100 because of rounding. In addition to the sentenced inmates listed above a further 21 remanded youth were housed in the youth units.

While the special focus units use a more holistic approach to addressing rehabiliatative issues, the Department also runs other targeted programmes for inmates. The table below lists some of these.

It should be noted that a large number of inmates participate in rehabilitative programmes, but these are scheduled to occur at certain phases of the inmate’s sentence. National Certificate in Employment Skills (NCES) numbers in the table below reflect the fact that, in two prison regions, the contract between Corrections and its education services provider had recently been terminated, and contracts with new providers had yet to be finalised.

Table 8-2 Sentenced inmates currently participating in reintegrative programmes.

Programme	Number participating:
Straight Thinking	123
Tikanga Māori	89
100 hour “criminogenic” programmes	57
Living skills course	7
National Certificate in Employment Skills (NCES) courses	658

Totals not given, as inmates may be involved in more than one activity concurrently

Employment skills training is also an important aspect of the rehabilitative approach within prisons. On the basis of an assessed need for such training, inmates are placed either in specific prison-based industries (operated by the Corrections Inmate Employment group, or CIE), or in unit-based employment (cleaning, laundry, servery, etc). A small number of selected inmates are allowed to work in the community if they are within a short time of their release.

In general, inmates housed in maximum security facilities and those on remand are least likely to have employment. Others may be prevented due to health issues, segregation, or similar management considerations. Inmate placements on or near census day are described below.

Table 8-3 Inmates (remand and sentenced) and employment.

Employment activity	Number	Percent
Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) placement	1598	25.6
Unit-based employment	2254	36.1
“Release to Work”	13	0.01
Not currently employed	2375	38.0
Total	6240	100.0