Annual Report 2006/07

Download the full Annual Report 2006/07 (PDF 4.2MB)

Chief Executive's overview

The Department of Corrections plays a vital role for New Zealand, contributing to safer communities by protecting the public and reducing re-offending. This past year has been a challenging one for the Department.

During 2006/07, Corrections was under significant public scrutiny, particularly in relation to prisoner transportation with the violent death of a 17 year-old remand prisoner, management of parolees as a result of a second killing by a life parolee, and allegations of prison staff corruption. In recognition of the seriousness of these events the Department is implementing improvements to minimise the risk of similar events occurring again. It has undertaken a major review of the transportation of prisoners in tandem with the Ombudsman’s Own Motion Investigation into Prisoner Transportation. The processes and procedures relating to high-risk prisoners released on parole were clarified and tightened, including taking action more quickly where high-risk parolees fail to meet the conditions of their parole. Similarly, immediate steps were taken and are continuing to investigate claims of staff corruption and to take action where these are found to be valid.

Despite these pressures the Department managed the largest number of community-based offenders and prisoners in its history, both sitting at higher than forecast numbers which has stretched our staff and facilities. In anticipation of the implementation of the new Effective Interventions package, Corrections staff put many long hours into designing and preparing draft legislation, business processes, systems, policies and procedures, and recruiting and training staff to successfully implement the changes. Effective Interventions strengthens and increases community-based sentences and orders and will significantly impact the way that we work in the community.

Two new regional prisons, Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility and Otago Corrections Facility, received their first prisoners during the year. Both new facilities were constructed and commissioned on time and to very high construction standards. The Spring Hill Corrections Facility in North Waikato was completed to plan and will receive its first prisoners in November 2007.

The first year of the Department’s new Prisoner Employment Strategy was successfully implemented with the February 2007 target of 80 prisoners on Release to Work achieved three months ahead of schedule and an additional 416 prisoners in employment or training at the end of June 2007.

A shared services organisational structure model commenced from 1 July 2007 following a major review of the way Head Office and field support services are structured. This structure will improve integration, efficiency and effectiveness across the Department. A culture change project, planned in 2006/07 for implementation in 2007/08, will focus on enhancing and improving the existing culture.

During the year, we reviewed the outcomes the Department contributes to and that link to the overall outcomes for the justice sector. Work also commenced on the development of the Department’s 2008–2013 Strategic Business Plan. This plan will confirm the outcomes Corrections contributes to, and it will outline strategies that it will implement to achieve these outcomes.

Thanks to the efforts, dedication, loyalty and integrity of the vast majority of our staff, the Department met these challenges and is well placed to meet the challenges ahead.

Barry Matthews
Chief Executive