Introduction from the Chief Executive
Every person we prevent from going on to re-offend means at least one less person becoming a victim of crime.
Over the next four years, Corrections will maintain its strong and unified focus on helping each offender to gain the life skills, rehabilitation, treatment, employment and support outcomes they need to remain crime-free.
When we reduce re-offending, we create lasting change for communities. This is why in 2014 we placed RR25% at the centre of our strategy for 2014-2017. When the goal to reduce re-offending by 25% by 2017 was set back in 2012 it was an ambitious goal, but one that remains achievable.
We have shown that it is possible to reduce re-offending; but it is clear more needs to be done in order for us to achieve our 25% target. We will do this in 2015 through the RR25% Boost Programme, which will target those offenders with whom we can achieve the greatest impact.
In May 2015 we opened the Auckland South Corrections Facility. This means more prisoners will be able to be accommodated in fit for purpose prisons closer to their support networks. We are also restructuring our prisons to lift productivity within the prison system. All of this, combined with a concentrated effort on key rehabilitation areas and all prisons becoming places of industry, learning and treatment by 2017 will have a noticeable and positive impact on reducing re-offending.
The number of people re-offending is continuing to reduce. They are coming down because of the work our people, in collaboration with others across the justice sector do every day with every offender to support our priorities:
- community support
- working prisons
- modern infrastructure
- visible leadership.
In the efforts to reduce re-offending we must never lose sight of the need to manage offenders in a way that holds them to account for their offending and keeps the public, our staff, and other offenders safe from harm. In all of our endeavours public safety is very firmly our bottom line.
Ray Smith
Chief Executive