Notes to Performance Measures

These new performance measures are being introduced for the 2012/13 financial year.

The percentage of probation reports provided to court that met mandatory standards

Probation reports are completed to formal standards as set out in the Community Probation Services Integrated Quality Framework.

The percentage of reports provided to court within agreed timeframes before sentencing

Probation reports are completed to timeframes as set out in the Community Probation Service Operations Manual. Specific timeframes are provided in respect of each of the individual report types that are included under the heading of ‘Probation’ reports.

Psychological Services provides reports to court at least two working days before sentencing where a request is received, allowing an agreed minimum timeframe, as set out in the Psychological Services Operations Manual.

The percentage of parole progress reports provided to agreed standards pursuant to NZPB requirements

Parole progress reports are completed to formal standards as set out in the Community Probation Services Integrated Quality Framework.

The percentage of reports provided to agreed timeframes pursuant to NZPB requirements

Parole assessment reports are provided to the NZPB at least 15 working days prior to the hearing date.

Parole progress reports are provided to the NZPB at least 10 working days prior to the hearing date.

Psychological reports are prepared for the NZPB at least five weeks prior to the hearing date.

The percentage of offenders who are notified as per NZPB requirements

Offenders are notified of an impending hearing no later than 14 days from the date of the hearing.

Offenders are notified of a Board decision no later than 14 days following receipt of the signed decision.

The percentage of victims who are notified as per NZPB requirements

Victims are notified of an impending hearing no later than 28 days from the date of the hearing.

Victims are notified of a Board decision no later than 14 days following receipt of the signed decision.

Undertake an audit of the contract outcomes for each contract by 30 June 2013, and report on the audit

All audits will be undertaken by 30 June 2013, with reports being completed within two months of the completion of the audit.

Non-compliance events in relation to the contract partner are managed within the contract

All “non compliance events” are recorded and tracked by the Commercial Contracts Team in the respective Contract Register, along with the process to be followed and the relevant timeframes.

The percentage of policy advice delivered to the Minister of Corrections that meets agreed standards

This measure is the number of briefings accepted by the Minster and not returned as not meeting agreed standards as follows:

• includes a clear statement of purpose
• is accurate and uses sound information
• presents a clear, concise and logical argument, with explicit assumptions and supported by facts
• draws on professional knowledge and appropriate methodologies
• examines comparative material
• presents options
• uses a clear conceptual and well-articulated framework
• considers resource, legal and human rights, implication and implementation issues/practicability
• considers evaluation
• considers issues for Mäori and Pacific peoples
• considers risk, costs and benefits.

The percentage of policy advice delivered to the Minister of Corrections within agreed timelines

This measure is around ensuring that advice is provided to the Minister within agreed timelines. Each policy advice item requested is subject to timelines agreed between the Minister and the Department.

The number of non-serious/no injury assaults

Non-serious assault – An act of physical violence that resulted in physical injuries that may or may not have required medical attention, but not overnight hospitalisation or on-going medical treatment.

No-injury assault – An act of physical violence that did not result in physical injuries or require any form of medical treatment.

The total number of drug tests sampled

This measure is based on the total number of drug test samples collected, not on the number of unique individuals who provided samples; the following drug test categories are included: voluntary participant (manual), reasonable cause (manual), identified drug user voluntary participant (manual), temporary release (random), identified drug user (random), general random (random).

The number of identified Prison Services Health Centres achieving Cornerstone accreditation

To demonstrate that the level of care in prisons meets the standards of care that are available in the community all health centres are aiming to be accredited under the Cornerstone process. The accreditation process demonstrates that prison health centres meet the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Aiming for Excellence standards for New Zealand general practice.

The percentage of prisoners entitled to receive an offender plan that received one

Corrections Act 2004 – Section 51. Management Plans

This section applies to every prisoner who is:
a) sentenced to imprisonment for a term of more than two months, or
b) in custody for a continuous period of more than two months on remand.

The percentage of prisoners who demonstrate measurable gains with literacy and numeracy

Prisoners will be regularly assessed using the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool after each period of 32 hours of tuition. Measurable improvements are where there is a statistically significant increase based on the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool.

The total number of qualifications achieved by prisoners through Corrections Inmate Employment

Each qualification has been approved by the National Prisoner Training Manager as being in line with the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) and is of specific value and relevance to prospective employers.

• National certification (Nat Cert) – qualification listed on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), composed of a prescribed number of unit standards and is a complete qualification. Range from level 1 to 4 within CIE.
• Limited credit programme (LCP) – qualification listed on the NQF administered by the NZQA, composed of a number of unit standards and is not a complete National Cert but is a pathway towards.
• Modularised training programme – qualification not listed on the NQF administered by an Industry Training Organisation (ITO), composed of a number of unit standards and is not a complete National Cert but is a pathway towards.
• Trade ticket – qualification underpinned by unit standards indicating trade currency and competency. Examples: 4711 Welding Ticket or Electrical Limited Regulation Ticket.
• Drivers licence – qualification composed of unit standards authorising individuals to drive prescribed types of vehicles.
• Health and safety – qualification sanctioned by ITOs, underpinned by or containing unit standards. Examples are: first aid, Grow Safe and Site Safe.

The number of prisoners who engaged in education programmes

Education participation is a planned intervention that is scheduled and undertaken as part of an offender’s plan. Ensuring every offender has an offender plan will assist in education being undertaken. The timing and sequencing of education will take into account an offender’s needs as well as the other interventions the offender has planned.

The number of prisoners who have engaged in employment activities

Provision of prisoner employment, including the provision and administration of work experience and training opportunities designed to help address the underlying causes of criminal re-offending. The Department provides employment and work-based training with assessment of New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) unit standards and qualifications to prisoners.

Eligible prisoners are provided with work related training to support their reintegration into the community on release from prison. Prisoners nearing their release date and who meet eligibility criteria, work outside the prison boundaries during the day in supervised work parties or on Release to Work to support their reintegration back into the community.

The percentage of offenders who have their reintegrative needs addressed

Reintegration services build upon the rehabilitation programmes provided within New Zealand’s prisons, enabling and supporting the offender’s transition into the community, or to assist offenders serving sentences in the community to fulfil the conditions of their sentence or order.

Reintegration services are demand driven and can be accessed by offenders while in custody (remand and sentenced) and post release. The services are not scheduled and are usually requested by offenders as they prepare to transition back to the community. The timing of reintegration is based on the offender’s needs and support other interventions.

The Department contracts reintegration providers to assist offenders with accommodation, employment or training, financial management, managing relationships and connecting with family/whänau, community support, victim related issues, and healthcare.